Minor Scale Patterns

In my basic guitar theory lesson 2, we learned the pattern that every major scale was based on (remember the WWHWWWH), and in lesson 3 we learned that the 6th note of the scale was the relative minor. Knowing this, we have a new pattern for our minor scale. Before, the C scale (CDEFGABC) had the first formula applied to it. Now that we know that A minor is the relative minor of the C scale (6th note in the C scale), there is a new formula for the A natural minor scale (ABCDEFGA) is - WHWWHWW.

We know that each note in the scale has a certain number value (also called degrees or intervals) assigned to them. Since there are three types of minor scales-natural, melodic, and harmonic-the thing that makes them different are their intervals. The natural minor scale degrees compared to the major (C Natural Minor compared to C Major) would be

C Major: C D E F G A B C

Intervals: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

C Natural Minor: C D Eb F Gb Ab B C

Intervals: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 8

The natural minor has flattened 3rd, 6th and 7th notes compared to the major.

C Major: C D E F G A B C

Intervals: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

C Harmonic Minor: C D Eb F G Ab B C

Intervals: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7 8

The harmonic minor has flattened 3rd and 6th notes.

C Major: C D E F G A B C

Intervals: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

C Melodic Minor: C D Eb F G A B C

Intervals: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 7 8

The melodic minor has only a flattened 3rd note, however that is only when going up the scale. Going down the scale, the melodic minor is the same as the natural minor.

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