The Minor Scale
If the major scale sounds bright and happy, the minor scale is its moodier sibling — darker, richer, and just as essential. Learn the formula, the degrees, and how minor relates to major, then hear it below.
What is the minor scale?
The natural minor scale is a seven-note scale that sounds darker or sadder than major. It's the backbone of countless songs across rock, pop, film scores, and classical music. This lesson focuses on the natural minor; its two cousins — harmonic and melodic minor — are small variations you'll meet later.
The minor scale formula
Every natural minor scale uses the same sequence of whole steps (W) and half steps (H):
That's W–H–W–W–H–W–W. Compared to the major scale, natural minor lowers the 3rd, 6th, and 7th degrees by a half step. That lowered third is the single biggest reason minor sounds the way it does.
Relative minor: the major/minor connection
Here's the shortcut that makes minor easy: every major scale has a relative minor that uses the exact same notes but starts on the 6th degree. C major's relative minor is A minor — same white keys, different home note. So if you know your major scales, you already know every natural minor scale too.
The minor scale degrees
The degrees use the same names as major, but three of them are flattened. Notice the ♭3, ♭6, and ♭7 — those are the notes that give minor its character.
| Degree | Name | In A minor | vs. Major |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | A | same |
| 2 | Supertonic | B | same |
| ♭3 | Mediant | C | lowered |
| 4 | Subdominant | D | same |
| 5 | Dominant | E | same |
| ♭6 | Submediant | F | lowered |
| ♭7 | Subtonic | G | lowered |
Common questions
What is the natural minor scale formula?
Whole–Half–Whole–Whole–Half–Whole–Whole (W–H–W–W–H–W–W). It lowers the 3rd, 6th, and 7th degrees compared to the major scale.
What are the notes of the A minor scale?
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and back to A — all white keys, because A minor is the relative minor of C major.
What's the difference between natural, harmonic, and melodic minor?
Natural minor is the base pattern. Harmonic minor raises the 7th degree (for a stronger pull to the tonic). Melodic minor raises both the 6th and 7th going up, and often reverts to natural minor coming down.
Why does minor sound sad?
Mostly the lowered third. A minor third above the tonic creates a darker, more introspective color than the bright major third, and our ears have learned to hear it as sadder or more serious.
See it on your instrument
Melody Monkey visualizes the minor scale on a live guitar, bass, ukulele, or piano — in any key, instantly.
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