A tutorial dealing with the construction of minor scales Qiana Lamb March 15, 2012

Welcome to A Minor Situation: A Tutorial on Minor Scales Natural Minor Scale Natural Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Knowledge Display Knowledge Display Building the Relative Minor Scale Building the Relative Minor Scale Here’s the navigational bar for you to use in the tutorial if you ever feel like you need to go back and get extra review or if you have so much fun you just want to do it again. To navigate through the tutorial use the action buttons located at the bottom of the screen. Click this button to move forward in the tutorial. Click this button to move backward in the tutorial. One more thing: When answering the questions be sure to click on the icon next to the answer and not the answer itself. Click the arrow to begin.

“But I don’t understand why scales are important.” What is a scale? Scales are one of the most important things you will ever learn in your musical career. A scale is a linear sequence of notes/pitches in a ascending or descending order. Characteristics of Scales: Most scales consist of a total of 8 pitches, but only 7 different pitches are used. The first and last note of every scale is the same. This note is called the tonic. So why should you learn your scales? For starters, learning your scales improves your playing technique. Scales help you to be comfortable playing in a variety of keys. Think of it like this; you learn the alphabet so you could learn to form words, which then forms sentences, which leads to paragraphs, which eventually leads to books. Music works the same way. You learn the notes to learn the scales. The scales then help form melodies, which form phrases, which eventually leads to an entire musical work. Another reason you should learn your scales: sometimes composers will write very complex passages of eighth notes or sixteenth notes (we often call these "runs"). These passages are often based of scalar material. Think how much less practicing you will have to do if you know your scales. How many different types of scales are there? There are a grand total of 48 major and minor scales. There are 12 major scales and 36 minor scales. Why so many minor scales you ask? There are 3 types of minor scales for every 1 major scale. This tutorial will explain the three forms of minor scales and give you a chance to practice and review them before you get to display your knowledge at the end. Click the arrow to begin.

Building A Relative Minor Scale Every major scale has a sibling scale called the relative minor scale. Relative minor scales are built on the sixth scale degree of its corresponding major scale. You can arrive at the tonic pitch in two different ways: If counting up (ascending) from the tonic of the corresponding major scale, the tonic for the relative minor scale is the 6 th note. If counting down (descending) from the tonic of the corresponding major scale, the tonic for the relative minor scale is the 3 rd note. In this case, C will be the relative minor of Eb major. Let’s practice finding relative majors and minors in the next exercises. Natural Minor Scale Natural Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Knowledge Display Knowledge Display Building the Relative Minor Scale Building the Relative Minor Scale

Amie wants to build a relative minor scale. She is starting with the F Major scale. What should be her first pitch? Building A Relative Minor Scale Practice AAAA DDDD Or

Did you count the correct number of pitches? Or Are you counting in the right direction? Please go back and try again.

D is the 3 rd pitch descending or the 6 th pitch ascending. Move to the next question.

Marcus’ new solo piece is written in C minor. He wants to know what the relative major key. How should he figure it out? He should use the same procedure for figuring out the relative minor by counting 6 pitches if he has counting going up or 3 pitches if he is going down. Marcus should reverse the process in order to find the relative major and count 6 pitches if he is going down or 3 pitches if he is going up. Building A Relative Minor Scale Practice

Remember you’re starting with the minor scale and not with the major scale. Think about how the process should go. Please, go back and try again.

When figuring out the relative major key from a minor scale you should reverse the process. Click the arrow to learn about the next minor scale type.

Natural minor is exactly like the relative minor scale. Natural minor scales do not have any altered pitches... hence the name natural. Here is the scale pattern for the Natural Minor Scale: This piano keyboard shows the d minor scale. Can you see the scale pattern on the keyboard? What is the relative major scale to d minor? Remember the procedure for determining a relative minor scale and work backwards. *hint* when working backwards, you’ll have to reverse the procedure. If you need to review, click the “Building the Relative Minor Scale” tab to your left. If you’re confident in your answer, move to the next slide. Natural Minor Scale Natural Minor Scale Natural Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Knowledge Display Knowledge Display Building the Relative Minor Scale Building the Relative Minor Scale

Natural Minor Scale Were you able to figure out that the relative major scale of d minor is F Major? Remember, if you are working backwards using the minor scale then the tonic pitch will either be the 3 rd pitch ascending or the 6 th pitch descending. Learning how to correctly build the natural minor scale is the most important step in learning how to construct various minor scales. Click on this link to watch a video that will further explain it to you. Once you’re done with the video, return to this slide of the tutorial and click the button below to proceed to the practice portion of the natural minor scale. Natural Minor Scale Natural Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Knowledge Display Knowledge Display Building the Relative Minor Scale Building the Relative Minor Scale Click the arrow to try a few practice exercises.

Natural Minor Scale Practice Natural Minor Scale Natural Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Knowledge Display Knowledge Display Building the Relative Minor Scale Building the Relative Minor Scale Jennifer constructed a natural minor scale based on the relative major scale of C. Which of the following examples is the correct natural minor scale?

This is the natural minor scale. The word natural is your clue. Please, go back and try again.

Natural minor scales have no altered pitches. Click the arrow to move to the next practice question.

Natural Minor Scale Practice Natural Minor Scale Natural Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Knowledge Display Knowledge Display Building the Relative Minor Scale Building the Relative Minor Scale Matthew constructed a natural minor scale based on the relative major scale of Db. Which of the following examples is the correct natural minor scale?

Look for a natural minor scale. The word natural is your clue. Also, pay close attention to the last pitch of the scale. Please, go back and try again.

Natural minor scales have no altered pitches and they begin and end on the same pitch. Click the arrow to move to the next minor scale type.

Harmonic Minor Scale The harmonic minor scale is just like the natural minor scale but with the 7th pitch of the scale raised a half-step. This one altered note is called the leading tone. The leading tone is the pitch that is a half- step below the tonic pitch. To create the leading tone, you must raise the 7th pitch of the scale by a half- step. There are three simple steps for constructing a harmonic minor scale. The next slide will address those steps. We’re going to use the key of Bb major for the examples. Natural Minor Scale Natural Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Knowledge Display Knowledge Display Building the Relative Minor Scale Building the Relative Minor Scale

Harmonic Minor Scale Step 1: To build the harmonic minor scale you must first figure out the relative minor scale for the given major scale and key signature. This is the Bb Major Scale; Natural Minor Scale Natural Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Knowledge Display Knowledge Display Building the Relative Minor Scale Building the Relative Minor Scale This pitch is the 3 rd pitch descending and the 6 th pitch ascending. This will be the tonic of your relative minor scale.

Harmonic Minor Scale Step 2: Build the natural minor scale starting on the tonic pitch pitch that you found in step 1.Use the same key signature as the major scale. See how the scale follows the interval pattern of Natural Minor Scale Natural Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Knowledge Display Knowledge Display Building the Relative Minor Scale Building the Relative Minor Scale Same key signature as Bb Major.

Step 3: Alter the 7 th pitch of the scale to make the leading tone. The 7 th pitch is F. To raise it a half- step we add a sharp. The final interval pattern for a Harmonic Minor Scale: *The (+2) means augmented second. An augmented second = 1 whole-step + 1 half-step. Can you find the augmented second? Harmonic Minor Scale Natural Minor Scale Natural Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Knowledge Display Knowledge Display Building the Relative Minor Scale Building the Relative Minor Scale Click the arrow to try a few practice exercises.

Alicia wants to practice constructing harmonic minor scales. She has chosen Eb major as her relative major key. Which of the following examples is the correct harmonic minor scale? Harmonic Minor Scale Practice

Check to see if the scale altered any pitches. Remember in the harmonic minor scale you want to create a leading tone. Please, go back and try again.

Harmonic minor scales change one pitch, the 7 th. In this case the Bb was changed to B ♮, creating the leading tone. Click the arrow to move to the next practice exercise.

Brandon spelled a d harmonic minor scale on his assignment. It was marked incorrect. What mistake did Brandon make? Harmonic Minor Scale Practice Brandon forgot to lower the 7 th scale step. Brandon did not make a mistake; his answer is correct.

What happens to the 7 th pitch of a harmonic minor scale? You have to create a leading tone that is a half-step lower than the tonic. Look for that in the scale. Please, go back and try again.

Good job remembering that the 7 th pitch must be raised a half step to create the leading tone. Maybe Brandon’s teacher forgot that Click the arrow to move to the next minor scale type.

Like the other versions of minor scales, melodic minor scales start out as natural minor scales. The melodic minor scale is the most interesting of all the minor scales. It is spelled one way ascending and spelled a different way descending. The melodic minor scale has 2 altered pitches the 6 th and 7 th pitch of the scale. The altered pitches occur only in the ascending section of the scale. The descending portion of a melodic minor scale is the same as the descending portion of a natural minor scale. Of the three minor scale varieties, this one has the most steps. You must go through natural and harmonic minor before arriving at the melodic minor. We’re going to use the key of Ab Major for the examples. Melodic Minor Scale Natural Minor Scale Natural Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Knowledge Display Knowledge Display Building the Relative Minor Scale Building the Relative Minor Scale

f minor is the relative minor to Ab Major. How do we know? F is the 3 rd pitch descending and the 6 th pitch ascending. Melodic Minor Scale Step 1: Determine the relative minor key and tonic Natural Minor Scale Natural Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Knowledge Display Knowledge Display Building the Relative Minor Scale Building the Relative Minor Scale

Melodic Minor Scale Natural Minor Scale Natural Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Knowledge Display Knowledge Display Building the Relative Minor Scale Building the Relative Minor Scale Step 2: Build the natural minor scale starting on the found relative minor tonic. f minor is the relative minor to Ab Major and its natural minor scale. How do we know? They share the same key signature There are no altered pitches

Melodic Minor Scale Natural Minor Scale Natural Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Knowledge Display Knowledge Display Building the Relative Minor Scale Building the Relative Minor Scale Step 3: Build the harmonic minor scale using the natural minor scale you just constructed. Do this by raising the 7 th scale pitch by a half-step. Change this pitch. The seventh note is an Eb. To raise it a half-step, Eb becomes E ♮. E ♮ is the leading tone, thus creating a harmonic minor scale.

Step 4: Build the ascending melodic minor scale using the harmonic minor scale you just constructed. Do this by raising the 6 th scale pitch by a half-step. Melodic Minor Scale Natural Minor Scale Natural Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Knowledge Display Knowledge Display Building the Relative Minor Scale Building the Relative Minor Scale Change this pitch. The Db was raised by a half-step to D ♮, thus creating the melodic minor scale. But wait, that’s only ascending...

Melodic Minor Scale Step 5: To write the descending portion of the melodic minor scale, lower the 6 th and 7 th pitches back down a half- step. Does this look familiar? It should, it’s the descending f natural minor scale. So the intervals to a melodic minor scale would look like this: Ascending melodic minor scale intervals are: Descending melodic minor scale intervals are: Natural Minor Scale Natural Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Harmonic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Melodic Minor Scale Knowledge Display Knowledge Display Building the Relative Minor Scale Building the Relative Minor Scale Click the arrow to try a few practice exercises.

Jordan needs to write a e ♭ melodic minor scale. Which of the following is Jordan’s correct answer? Melodic Minor Scale Practice

Melodic minor scales are really two different scales rolled into one. One scale going up and a different one going down. Please, go back and try again.

Melodic minor scales raise the 6 th and 7 th pitches ascending and then lower the 6 th and 7 th pitches descending. Click the arrow to move to the next practice exercise.

Erren is helping Cheryl with her scales. They have to write the melodic minor scale using the G major scale. What note should they start their scale on and what two pitches will be changed? Melodic Minor Scale Practice They will start the scale on B. They will then change A to A# and G to G#. They will start the scale on E. They will then change C to C# and D to D#.

Make sure that you are counting the correct number of pitches either ascending or descending. Once you do that you’ll be able to figure out the correct answer. Please, go back and try again.

You did a great job figuring out the tonic pitch and what the altered pitches are. Click the arrow to move to the display your knowledge section.

You have had the chance now to learn about the three forms of minor scales; natural, harmonic and melodic. You have learned how to construct them in a variety of keys. Now, it’s your turn to show me what you have learned. You will accomplish this in two ways. Part I- Scale Construction: Your assignment will be to construct the following scales using the noteflight online program. Scales to Build: Natural Minor; F, C Harmonic Minor: Db, Eb Melodic Minor: A, Bb You should already have your username and password. Once you have completed the scales you will save your work and print out your scales. Here is a link to noteflight: Part II- Performance: With the scales that you construct, you will record yourself using Garage Band playing each of the scales. You can record as many times as you would like so that you can submit your best recording. You will upload your recording to our class page on Google. Have fun and good luck! Display Your Knowledge