1. Chapter 7
Minor Scales and Keys

2. Relative key signatures
• Major/minor pairs that share the same key
signature are said to be relative
(Ex. “a minor is the relative key of C Major”)
• The key signature will be identical in terms
of number and placement of accidentals

3. Relative Key Signature

4. Parallel Key Signatures
• Parallel major/minor keys share the same
tonic but have different key signatures and a
different arrangement of whole and half
steps.
(Ex. “c minor is the parallel key of C Major”.
C minor has 3 flats and C major does not have
any flats/sharps.)

5. Minor Scales
• There are three types of minor scale:
– Natural (pure)
– Harmonic
– Melodic
• You will not need to know the order of
whole and half steps IF you know the key
signature and rules for the scale.

6. Natural minor
• The natural minor scale (like the major scale)
is a diatonic scale with a minor key
signature, with no other accidentals required
• Half-steps are re-mi (2-3)and sol-la (5-6)
• WHWWHWW

7. Harmonic minor
• This scale is the most often encountered
minor scale!
1. begin with the natural minor
2. raise the seventh scale degree(7th, ti) by one
half-step.
- Be SURE to raise the seventh ONLY in the scale
and NOT in the key signature (ALWAYS appears as
an accidental)
- In flat keys a raised seventh may use a natural, not
a sharp (and in sharp keys may need a double-
sharp)… take care to note the key signature!

8. Examples of Harmonic minor scales
(2 Octaves & fingerings on Keyboard)
A Harmonic minor scale:
D Harmonic minor scale:
E Harmonic minor scale:

9. Melodic minor
• The melodic minor incorporates different
rules when ascending or descending!
• The ascending melodic minor:
1. Begin with the natural minor
2. Raise the seventh(7th, ti)(harmonic minor)
3. Raise the sixth (6th, la)by one half-step.
• Descending melodic minor:
• Use the natural minor (pure) form!

10. Melodic minor
• raised sixth and seventh ascending
• natural minor descending
• Please use the reminder accidentals for the
descending melodic minor for clarity

11. A minor scales
Fingering on Keyboard
Fingering #
1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1

12. Fingering on Keyboard
(ANatural minor scales)
for RH

13. Fingering on Keyboard
(AHarmonic minor scales)
for RH

14. Fingering on Keyboard
(AMelodic minor scales)
for RH