Melodic minor scales piano
It follows the pattern of generating the church modes from each degree of the major scale-but that’s a topic for another article! This relationship is also the reason why natural minor is sometimes called the Aeolian mode. Playing the notes in this key signature in order will give you the A natural minor scale. It shares the same key signature with no sharps and flats. The relative minor is the 7 note scale beginning and ending on the 6th degree of any major scale.įor example, the relative minor of C Major is A minor. It’s called natural minor because it’s equivalent to the relative minor key signature in a major key without any changes to the pattern.Įach major key shares its key signature with a related minor scale called the relative minor. The pattern can be shown by writing the degrees of the scale that are altered from the major scale It’s based on the following tone-semitone pattern: Tone-semitone-tone-tone-semitone-tone-tone. Natural minor is the simplest form of minor scale. I’ll go through each variation on the minor scale and explain where it comes from and how it’s used. That might sound complicated, but don’t worry. Each has a slightly different use, but all three scales include the distinctive minor third relationship to the tonic in scale degree 3. It includes three different variations called the natural minor scale (or Aeolian mode), the melodic minor scale and the harmonic minor scale. The minor scale is the pattern in western music typically associated with sad feelings.
#Melodic minor scales piano how to
In this article I’ll explain everything you need to know about the minor scale and how to use it in your music. There are several different versions and finding the key signature takes a bit more work. You need to learn how to use them if you want to access the distinctive atmosphere the minor tonality creates.īut the minor mode is more complicated than its happier counterpart. The somber mood of minor scales has a powerful effect on listeners. Major scales are normally associated with happiness, while minor scales typically evoke feelings of sadness and melancholy. These foundational patterns have strong links to basic emotions for most listeners. The major and minor scales are the basis for any melody in western music.