Continuing with our Scale suggesting emotion series, you can find the major scale here, let’s take a look at the sad scale – The Minor Scale.
There are three kinds of Minor Scale, all of them have a different use case but you can use each of them in improvisation tastefully.
So let’s get started with the basic Natural Minor Scale.
Natural Minor Scale
Natural Minor Scale is the same as the Major Scale but only the 3rd, 6th and the 7th degree are flattened. Therefore, minor scale formula become
T S T T S T T
T = Whole Step or Whole Tone
S = Half Step or Semitone
You can use the solfege for Minor Scale too just syllables for the flattened degrees changes a bit.
Below is the image for A Minor Scale.
The rule remains the same, Minor scale also uses note letters successively without any of them repeating it.
Let’s take another example and build the minor scale taking F as the root.
Degrees of the Minor Scale
In Western music theory, the degrees of the natural minor scale, also known as the Aeolian mode, are similar to those of the major scale but with some variations in function. Here’s a description of the function of each degree of the natural minor scale:
Tonic
Like in the major scale, the tonic is the first degree of the minor scale. It serves as the home or resting point of the scale, providing stability and resolution.
Supertonic
The supertonic in the natural minor scale, like in the major scale, creates tension and typically leads to the tonic. However, in the minor scale, it often appears as a minor chord (ii) and can also function as a point of departure or a transitional harmony.
Mediant
The mediant in the minor scale contributes to the harmonic movement by acting as a transitional note between the tonic and dominant. It can create a melancholic or introspective mood, depending on its context.
Subdominant
The subdominant in the minor scale, like in the major scale, provides a sense of departure from the tonic. It often leads to the dominant or serves as a point of tension before resolving to the tonic.
Dominant
The dominant in the minor scale, as in the major scale, has a strong tendency to resolve to the tonic. It plays a crucial role in creating cadences and establishing tonal centers in minor key compositions.
Submediant
The submediant in the minor scale adds variety and color to chord progressions, similar to its role in the major scale. It can convey a sense of resolution or serve as a point of departure, depending on its harmonic context.
Leading Tone
The leading tone in the natural minor scale is often raised to create a stronger pull to the tonic. This raised seventh degree, known as the harmonic or melodic leading tone, contributes to the resolution and closure of phrases in minor key compositions.
Understanding the functions of each degree of the minor scale is essential for composers, arrangers, and performers when crafting melodies, harmonies, and chord progressions in minor keys.
Practice writing different minor scales on the manuscript it will help you to memorize the formula and different scales.
You can find the next lesson here.
Cheers,
SonorousMoose xD
