How to Read Music (The Minor Scale)

In our last installment of How To Read Music (The Major Scale), we covered the notes that comprise the major scale

This time we will cover something a bit more sad: the minor scale.

The minor scale (Aeolian mode) is considered the sixth scale in a series of seven church modes.

The major scale brought us feelings of joy and happiness, whereas the minor scale may bring us down a bit, but we'll be happy that it did.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Eyes
• Ears
• An open mind

1. 
   C Minor Scale

   The minor scale is broken down in terms of whole-steps (two semitones) and half-steps (semitone).
   
   If we use the letter W to indicate a whole step and a leeter H to indicate a half-step the formula reads like this:
   
   W - H - W - W - H - W - W
   
   If we were to begin with the note C the scale would be spelled like this: C,D,Eb,F,G,Ab,Bb,C
   
   The notes would start from the note C and span the length to the next octave ending on note C.
   
   Note the flat (b) signs used in the key signature to determine the notes that will be lowered.

2. 
   A Minor Scale

   If we were to begin with the note A to create our minor scale it will comprise only natural notes (no sharps or flats) and thus require no key signature. It will appear like this:
   
   A,B,C,D,E,F,G,A
   
   It is obvious that the note names are different from the C minor scale, but are nonetheless, derived from the same system.

3. 
   Key Signature with flat symbols denoting a C Minor scale

   The flat signs are relative to those found in a particular minor scale. Upon first glance, just knowing which note name contains which flats you will be able to immediately determine which key to play.
   
   The flats will appear in the same order in all key signatures.

[allemande]

on 11/24/2008 Its confusing to call the aeolian mode a minor scale.
There are two minor scales in western music. Both have the same first five notes. W - H - W - W ( in A minor this would be A B C D E. But then it gets different
1. In the melodic minor scale the 6th (F) and 7th (G) degress are raised by a semitone (in A minor F# and G#) on the way up; and on the way down they are lowered back a semitone (in A minor F and G)
2. In the harmonic minor scale the sixth degree stays flat (F) and the 7th degree is raised a semitone (G#)
This creates an interval of a minor third (or three semitones) between the 6th and 7th degrees that is the same on the way up as it is on the way down.
Compared to Indian music western classical music is relatively short on scales. Really there is only major and the two minors. The modes are quite a different and fascinating thing and much used in Eastern European music