How to learn music: The Minor Scale - learning to play and read music

In this lesson we learn to play and read music by exploring a fundamental idea in music: The Minor Scale

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• a knowledge of basic notes

1. Remember with ascending notes we have A,A#,B,C,C#,D,D#,E,F,F#,G and G#, and with descening notes we have G, Gb,F,E,Eb,D,Db,C,B,Bb,A,Ab.

2. Describe a half step. When we go from one tone to its neighboring tone (like C to C#, or E to F, or G to Gb) that distance is called a half-step.

3. Describe a whole step. When we go from one tone to a tone two spots away (like C to D, or E to F#, or G to A) that distance is called a whole step.

4. The formula for the minor scale is W-H-W-W-H-W-W, [W=whole step] [H=half step]. Which ever note you start the formula on IS THE NAME OF THE SCALE. so if you start on A, then the notes are [A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A] and the name of the scale you are playing is THE A-MINOR SCALE. It has no sharps or flats and is the ONLY MINOR scale to have no sharps or flats

5. Test yourself: Find the notes for the E MINOR Scale and the D MINOR Scale. E MINOR Scale = E-F#-G-A-B-C-D-E, the D MINOR scale = D-E-F-G-A-Bb-C-D.

6. continue to the minor chord to learn, play, and read about more music!

Tips & Warnings

• please rate my article. It makes me smile and encourages me to write more :)
• Avoid easy errors, the minor scale is a MAJOR scale with lowered scale degrees 3,6,and 7.