The Natural Minor Scale

The Natural Minor Scale
The natural minor scale begins on the 6th degree of the major scale. Also, the natural minor scale uses the same notes that are in relative major scale. So, if you want to find the relative minor of a major key, you go to the 6th scale degree, or count down 1 1/2 steps. The formula for building a Natural Minor Scale is:
W - H - W - W - H - W – W

Here is a list of all the relative minor scales:
A minor = A B C D E F G A
A# minor = A# B# C# D# E# F# G# A#
Bb minor = Bb C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb
B minor scale = B C# D E F# G A B
C minor scale = C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
C# minor scale = C# D# E F# G# A B C#
D minor scale = D E F G A Bb C D
D# minor scale = D# E# F# G# A# B C# D#
Eb minor scale = Eb F Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb
E minor scale = E F# G A B C D E
F minor scale = F G Ab Bb C Db Eb F
F# minor scale = F# G# A B C# D E F#
G minor scale = G A Bb C D Eb F G
G# minor scale = G# A# B C# D# E F# G#
Ab minor scale = Ab Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab

There are four types of minor scales: natural, harmonic, melodic ascending, melodic descending. Just the one scale is covered here.
Gospel music is closely associated with the minor scale. If a song ends with a lot of 7-3-6s, then you are most likely in a minor key.
http://www.giftedplayer.com/gospelweeklytip-42506.php
As far as chords and progressions, the minor key uses the same notes and progressions as the major key. The only difference is 6 becomes your 1. You can tell from the sound of the song if it's in a major or minor key. Songs written in minor keys can be sad, mysterious, and ominous. But not all minor key songs are sad sounding. An example of this is Santana's "Oye Como Va".

A few good examples:

* Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day

* Faceless Man by Creed
* Bring Me To Life by Evanescence
∑ Are You Happy Now? by Michelle Branch
∑ Hotel California by the Eagles

Fingering for Scales: http://www.robertkelleyphd.com/scalfing.htm
http://homepage.mac.com/barrieb/technique/patterns.html#bbandeb

Why Learn the Natural Minor Scale?

Much like the major scale, the notes of the natural minor scale serve as basis for many, many songs. When a song is in a minor key, the notes making up the song’s chords, melody and bass line mostly come from the natural minor scale.


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