GuitarMaps are a simple way to develop a better vision of the whole guitar fret board, allowing you to play solos anywhere on the guitar neck. I have a better understanding of the difference between the two . It is said that the root of music theory can be seen by playing the Major Scale in the Key of C on the Piano (only the white keys from C to C) and every Major Scale has a relative minor Scale as seen when looking at the Circle Of Fifths.Below is how a Minor Scale is built. This is because the upper parts in both scales are the same. For a start, you should begin by committing patterns 1, 4 and 5 to your memory. Now onto the third type of minor scale which is the melodic minor. If someone asks you to play an A minor scale on the guitar, for example, you play the pattern below. We tend to say that major scales have a ‘happier’ and ‘cheerier’ sound, whereas minor scales have In this post I’ll be covering everything you need to know about minor scales including the different types and how we form them. All of the scale’s pitches are represented in a five-note symmetrical pattern established on the lowest string pair: the F and G notes (b7th and root) lie on string 6; Bb, C, and D (b3rd, 4th and 5th) on string 5. The natural minor scale can be played in 5 different positions just like the major scale, the pentatonic scale and all the other scales. © Hello Music Theory 2020 | All rights reserved | Sitemap. A minor scale: A -whole- B -half- C -whole- D -whole- E -half- F -whole- G -whole- A. Every improviser who has learned how to use the major and minor scales must learn, right after that, how to use the relative minor scale.. For example here is a natural minor scale starting on D: Or here is another natural minor scale this time starting on E: The natural minor is also known as the Aeolian mode. Here, we’re gonna compare different minor scales and the diatonic chords that they create. Or you may think the minor scales are only for sad, sappy songs. Minor scales are an important part of music theory. In fact the minor scale is relative to the major scale. How to Transpose Scale Patterns to Other Keys. Learn about the Minor Scale. The MINOR SCALE uses the wh wwh ww pattern of intervals.. whole-half-whole-whole-half-whole-whole You flat the 3rd note, the 6th note, and 7th note of the major scale and the wh wwh ww minor scale pattern is … Whatever note you put that one becomes the name of the scale. This is an A major scale pattern. Play the notes in the number order shown. Play the A Major Scale on Bass Guitar. Melodic minor scales are quite different from natural and harmonic minors as they use different notes when ascending (going up) and descending (going down). The formula for a melodic minor scale is whole step – half step – whole step – whole step – whole step – whole step – half step. Move it around to a different root to play the scale for that note. An octave-repeating scale can be represented as a circular arrangement of pitch classes, ordered by increasing (or decreasing) pitch class. December 10, 2015. Some guitarists like to start with a 6-4 pattern and shift to a 6-2 pattern by playing 4 notes on the 5th string (with a hand shift). Common minor-type scale and chord patterns and how to apply them. Natural minor scales follow the interval pattern of WHWWHWW, which translates into Whole step Half step Whole step Whole step Half step Whole step Whole step. Each scale uses a different formula of intervals and has a completely different sound and feel. In this case we are going to play the LA major scale in the bass. The minor scale formula follows the pattern W, H, W, W, H, W, W. Lastly, you can take a modal approach to the minor scale. A scale degree is designated by an Arabic numeral with a cap (^) which indicate the position of the note within the scale. If you have any questions that I haven’t covered just post a comment below and I’ll update the article. When you play the major scale starting on the 6th degree and play seven notes ascending (going up) in the scale you are actually playing a minor scale. C Major Scale on Bass. E harmonic minor scale The Melodic Minor Scale. … 5th note: Dominant. The wonderful thing about the guitar is that you have to memorize only one pattern for each type of scale and you’re set. I’m Dan and I run this website. Michael Pilhofer, MM, holds a Master's in Music Education with a Jazz Emphasis from the Eastman School of Music, and a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Performance from the University of Miami. Most scales are octave-repeating, meaning their pattern of notes is the same in every octave (the Bohlen–Pierce scale is one exception). For example here is D harmonic minor scale: Now onto the third type of minor scale which is the melodic minor. The five C-A-G-E-D scale shapes (C shape, A shape, G shape, E shape and D shape) surround the entire fretboard. Played on three notes per string, this scale can be played entirely with seven patterns. Major scales use tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, semitone. You’ll see how to join the patterns up in order to create longer lines further … When writing music in the melodic minor scale, composers write out the song using the natural minor pattern, and then they add the accidentals that modify any ascending 6th and 7th notes afterward. 1 is our root note, and wherever that note lies is the key of the scale. The initial major patterns you've probably already learned and practiced (major scale, major triad, etc.) A scale is a stepwise arrangement of notes/pitches contained within an octave. Pentatonic minor keys. Natural minor scales on the guitar follow the pattern shown below. In this lesson we're going to be learning Pattern 3 of the Minor Pentatonic. The diagram below shows the first natural minor scale pattern together with four more patterns. A large variety of other scales exists, some of the more common being: The Phrygian dominant scale (a mode of the harmonic minor scale); The Arabic scales; The Hungarian minor scale; The Byzantine music scales (called echoi); The Persian scale; Scales such as the pentatonic scale may be considered gapped relative to the diatonic scale. This scale can be confusing because it is in a way identical to the Major Scale. You’ll see how to join the patterns up in order to create longer lines further down the page. The Differences Between Natural, Harmonic and Melodic Minors, tones and semitones (whole steps and half steps), 10 Important Composers of the Renaissance Era, 10 Important Composers of the Medieval Period, raised 6th and 7th notes ascending (like the major scale), flattened 6th and 7th descending (like the natural minor scale). We can use this combination of semitones and tones to form a natural minor scale starting on any note. Study bass has written a good post going into more details about the difference between major and minor that you can read here. Together they make the minor triad.This includes many scales and modes such as Dorian mode and the Phrygian mode.. The Melodic Minor scale is a seven note scale with the eighth note completing an octave. For example, C minor has the same key signature as E flat major, since E flat is a minor third higher than C. Remember that the white circles are the note fro… So using this order of tones and semitones we can construct a harmonic minor scale starting on the note A: As you can see the harmonic minor is very similar to the natural minor. Types of Minor Scales. Advertise With Us | View our Terms and Conditions. Let’s ha… Here is a melodic minor scale starting on the note D: Let’s do a quick recap of the three types of minor scales. A minor scale is made up of half-step chords that result in sounds that will be slightly more dissonant. (W-H-W-W-W-W-H) The descending formula is the natural minor scale formula backwards. Visit: Pentatonic Scales GuitarSix. We tend to say that major scales have a ‘happier’ and ‘cheerier’ sound, whereas minor scales have a ‘darker’ and ‘sadder’ sound. Side note: Melodic and harmonic minor scales are nothing to do with melodic and harmonic intervals. Although there is only one kind of major scale, there are three kinds of minor scale - "harmonic", "melodic" and "natural". The descending pattern is … Scales are typically listed from low to high pitch. In the melodic minor scale, the 6th degree is called the submediant. Fantastic presentation-the simplest, easiest to grasp and recall I have ever seen!! D Major Scale on Bass. whole - half - whole - whole - half - whole - whole. Minor scales use tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone and a half, semitone. In a recent article, “Beginner’s Guide to the Minor Scale,” I wrote about the natural minor scale, the theory behind the scale, reviewed the major/minor relationship, covered the minor scale formula and introduced 5 must-know patterns. There are three different forms of the Minor scale: Natural minor, Harmonic minor and Melodic minor. The three types of minor scale that we’ll look at are: All three of these minor scales start the same but have some slight differences after that. That’s why it’s so important to master all of these five scale shapes. The three groups of Minor scales are: The Natural Minor (see below) The Melodic Minor; The Harmonic Minor; The Natural Minor Scale is often referred to simply as “the Minor Scale”. Download my free eBook with all my favourite music theory resources. Let’s now take a look at the E harmonic minor scale. begin on your second finger. Keeping this pattern of semitones and tones we can then work out a harmonic minor scale starting on any note. He graduated from The Royal Academy of Music in 2012 and then launched Hello Music Theory in 2014. Plus, it sounds great! And, of course, for the descending notes on both the piano and guitar you revert to A natural minor. Each form consists of a series of 7 notes. While you’re going up in pitch when playing a piece, you raise the 6th and 7th degrees of the natural minor scale a half step, but during parts of the same piece where the pitch goes down, you play the notes according to the natural minor scale. These specific patterns of intervals are what put the minor scales into their little niche. Measuring the Distance between Pitches with Intervals, Understanding Simple and Compound Time Signatures. Major and minor scales contain seven notes or scale degrees. Whatever note you start with on the top (low E) string is the tonic and therefore names the scale. Piano Scales and Minor Scales. The relative minor scale is widely used in improvisation because it allows more ideas for the solo. Because it’s a minor scale, it follows the following pattern of whole & half-steps: W – H – W – W – H – W – W. If we apply this formula to the chromatic intervals on the guitar, you can see how the minor scale is built. For example, C minor has the same key signature as E flat major, since E flat is a minor third higher than C. The natural minor scale is the most basic form of the minor scale. Use the G major pentatonic in Folk, Country and Rock in the key of G when you don’t want the blues sound. The “shapes” are sometimes also referred to as “positions”. The step is not raised in the key signature; instead, it’s raised through the use of accidentals (sharps, double sharps, or naturals). The I - IV - V Chord Pattern. A bit of theory and some simple patterns to easily play major and minor scales on ukulele. Scales in which the 6th and 7th degrees are flat in natural minor require naturals to raise those two degrees. But the truth is that the arrangements and tones (or note sounds) available in the minor scales — divided, according to composition, into the natural, harmonic, and melodic minor scales — can be much more flexible for a composer to use than the major scales alone. The 5 pentatonic box patterns . How can I buy your book with all the major and minor scales ? These 5 positions are all one and the same natural minor scale but played in different shapes and areas on the fretboard to give you the freedom to play the scale all over the neck and improvise without restrictions. Minor scales have a different formula of tones and semitones (whole steps and half steps) to major scales. Try this with other patterns. The Melodic Minor Scale differs from the Natural Minor Scale by the sixth and seventh notes, which are raised one semi-step. Notice how the two half steps are always separated by either two or three whole steps; this system of intervals is the diatonic pattern. Notice how the piano scale changes when you add a half step to the 7th scale degree. The second type of minor scale that we’ll look at is the harmonic minor scale. Your email address will not be published. The interval pattern for each scale is the same for the first five notes, however the intervals used for the sixth and seventh scale degrees are … The pattern for the minor scale starts a half step plus a whole step lower than the major scale pattern, so a relative minor is always three half steps lower than its relative major. Now that we know how to form melodic minor scale we can work them out starting on any note. The basic natural minor scale pattern (pattern 1) can be extended up and down the guitar fretboard using the additional scale patterns. The set pattern of intervalsfor the notes of the natural minor scale is: Tone – Semitone – Tone – Tone – Semitone – Tone – Tone It is the same pattern of notes when going up the scale as when going down the scale. Playing minor scales on the guitar is simply a matter of following the pattern shown below. Even though every type of minor scale contains a different set of notes, each type of scale is put together in a specific way. Use the E minor pentatonic scale when playing 12 Bar blues in either E major or E minor, it works equally well over both. Here You might notice that descending melodic minors are exactly the same as the natural minor scale. When learning music theory and scales, the first one that most people learn about is a major scale but they are just one type of many different musical scales. The formula for forming a natural (or pure) minor scale is W-H-W-W-H-W-W. “W” stands for whole step and “H” stands for half step. Many people think that minor scales sound sad, compared to major scales which sound happy. Just like other scales, there is just one pattern for building all the melodic minor scales. To create a borrowed chord, we take one of the chords from the parallel key and use it in the original key. But remember, the three minors scales ALWAYS have a flattened 3rd note. Unlike major scales where there is only one type to know about, minor scales have three variations. Together they make the minor triad.This includes many scales and modes such as Dorian mode and the Phrygian mode.. If someone asks you to play an A minor scale … great presentation and explanation…thanks. A tab example has been provided for each of the new patterns. However, keep in mind that they return to the natural minor when going down the scale. Sixths happen to be inversions of thirds. Both sixths and thirds invoke a rich sense of tertian harmony. com Six IGuitar -.com . The notes in The Minor Pentatonic Scale Pattern 2 are exactly the same notes we had in Pattern 1, so many people wonder why we bother learning them! I became more efficient in analyzing and memorizing chord progressions and it was also a helpful tool for song writing and understanding how to improvise over these chords. Minor pentatonic scale patterns - the 5 positions As we learned in the minor pentatonic scale lesson, this scale has just 5 tones - 1 (root), b3 (minor 3rd), 4 (perfect 4th), 5 (perfect 5th) and b7 (minor 7th). This scale is used to solo over just about any chord or key including major keys, minor keys, major chords, minor chords, blues progressions, and more. Each of the eight notes in a minor scale has a name: In the harmonic and melodic minor scales, the 7th degree is called the leading tone. It follows a set pattern of note intervals. There are not one but three Minor scales, all presented here with keyboard diagrams, notes and fingerings. Look at Pattern 1 below and notice that the R is on the 6th string (played with the Finger 1). So place Finger 1 at the 3rd fret and you will play the G Minor Pentatonic Scale (because the note on the 3rd fret of the 6th string is the note G). Play the notes in the number order shown below. In this bass pdf we present the 3 ways that exist to touch the major scale. Again, just like the major scale patterns, these minor scale patterns are based on intervals so they’re the same across all minor keys. Whatever note you start with on the top (low E) string is the tonic and therefore names the scale. To build a D natural minor scale, starting on D, we take a whole step to E. Next, we take a half step to F. From F, a whole step takes us to G. Another whole step takes us to A. In my basic guitar theory lesson 2, we learned the pattern that every major scale was based on (remember the WWHWWWH), and in lesson 3 we learned that the 6th note of the scale was the relative minor. To play the ascending A melodic minor scale on guitar, play this pattern. Starting on finger one may take some getting used to, so pay attention. The basic natural minor scale pattern (pattern 1) can be extended up and down the guitar fretboard using the additional scale patterns. Natural minor scale Relationship to relative major. The easiest place to start when applying the A minor pentatonic scale is to use it over a chord progression in the key of A minor. Thanks for stopping by and if you have any questions get in touch! 6th note: Submediant. Holly Day's work has appeared in Guitar One Magazine, Music Alive!, culturefront Magazine, and Brutarian Magazine. Due to the placement of these half step intervals, the third is the first note to reveal a scale’s major or minor status. Practice shifting between the box patterns. The only difference is that the 7th degree of the scale is one semitone higher. © 2020 Discover Music Inc. But what is the relative minor scale? Ascending melodic minors use this combination of tones and semitones: But on the way down they use this combination (from the top down): Here you can see that it’s similar to the natural minor but has the 6th and 7th notes of the scale raised by one semitone. Minor scale positions connected by root. It occurs when the 7th note of the natural minor scale is raised by a half step. The root pattern will be the same for a given position regardless of the minor key scale being used. Place Finger 1 on the 8th fret and you will play the C Minor Pentatonic Scale (because the note at the 8th fret … These Are the Minor Bass Scales. 2nd note: Supertonic. Below is a G pentatonic minor scale pattern. Each pattern can be played in any position on the fretboard. , tone, semitone note under your second finger of pattern 1 the main difference that! You start with on the guitar, for the descending notes on both the 6th (... 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Course, for example here is D harmonic minor scales that descending melodic minors are exactly the same for harmonic!