Musical scales: Major and minor

A musical scale is a succession of notes played either in ascending or descending order which compose a short system, or scale. Any given scale receives the name of its main note and the rule that has been followed in it.

There are many kinds of scales, more if you consider that different cultures have used different scales along history. The basic scales to be learned, however, are two: major and minor.

Major scale

Major scales are based on the musical scale of do. Thus, we have:

C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C
D – E – F# – G – A – B – C# – D
E – F# – G# – A – B – C# – D# – E
F – G – A – Bb – C – D – E – F
G – A – B – C – D – E – F# – G
A – B – C# – D – E – F# – G# – A
B – C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A# – B

In my experience, this is easier to learn if you memorize the sequence:

tone – tone – half-tone – tone – tone – tone – half-tone

Minor scale

Minor scales are based on the musical scale of la. Thus, we have:

A – B – C – D – E – F – G – A
B – C# – D – E – F# – G – A – B
C – D – Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb – C
D – E – F – G – A – Bb – C – D
E – F# – G – A – B – C – D – E
F – G – Ab – Bb – C – Db – Eb – F
G – A – Bb – C – D – Eb – F – G

tone – half-tone – tone – tone – half-tone – tone – tone

Other minor scales

There are two other minor scales. The one above is called the natural minor scale. These ones are called harmonic and melodic minor scales.

Harmonic minor scale

The harmonic minor scale is built raising the seventh note of a natural minor scale by a half-tone. Here you have it:

A – B – C – D – E – F – G# – A
B – C# – D – E – F# – G – A# – B
C – D – Eb – F – G – Ab – B – C
D – E – F – G – A – Bb – C# – D
E – F# – G – A – B – C – D# – E
F – G – Ab – Bb – C – Db – E – F
G – A – Bb – C – D – Eb – F# – G

tone – half-tone – tone – tone – half-tone – tone and a half – half-tone

Melodic minor scale

The melodic minor scale is built raising both the sixth and the seventh note of a natural minor scale by a half-tone. Here you have it:

A – B – C – D – E – F# – G# – A
B – C# – D – E – F# – G# – A# – B
C – D – Eb – F – G – A – B – C
D – E – F – G – A – B – C# – D
E – F# – G – A – B – C# – D# – E
F – G – Ab – Bb – C – D – E – F
G – A – Bb – C – D – E – F# – G

tone – half-tone – tone – tone – tone – tone – half-tone

Traditionally, th melodic minor scale is used when ascending, and the natural minor scale when descending.

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