The Music Theory Advantage TM
 Quickly Learn and Remember how to Spell
The Major and Natural Minor Scales

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Max Maxwell
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Spelling Diatonic Scales for Minor Keys

 The diatonic scale that is created by a minor key is called the Natural Minor Scale.

Spelling the diatonic scales for minor keys is essentially the same process as for major keys.  The only difference is that you must first find the minor key’s relative major key. Once you find the relative major, use the relative major key’s sharp / flat information to spell the scale of the minor key. With the natural minor scale, you must start and end the scale on the note named in the minor key name.

 How to Spell a Natural Minor Scale

1. Write out the scale with plain letter names (no sharps or flats) in alphabetical order.   

    Start and end with the same note name as in the name of the minor key.

Example: G Minor -  G  A  B  C  D  E  F  G

 

2. Find the relative major.

Example: To find the relative major key for G Minor you must find a minor 3rd above G.
               A minor third above G is B
b. Bb Major is the relative major of G Minor.

 

3. Determine the number and names of the sharps or flats using the relative major key.

 Example: Bb Major is a major key with flats - (bike-fife-tube-2) - The number of flats is two. The names of those flats are Bb (bike) and Eb (ear).

 

4. Apply the relative major key’s sharps or flats to your scale. (Bb Major – Bb, Eb)

 Example: G Minor -  G  A  Bb C  D Eb F G

 

Exercise P2-10:

Write out the natural minor scales for the minor keys below using the method described in this Focal Point. Scroll to the bottom for the answers.

  1. A Minor     _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____

  2. G# Minor   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____

  3. D Minor   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____

  4. Eb Minor   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____

  5. F# Minor   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____

  6. Bb Minor   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____

  7. C Minor   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____

  8. Ab Minor   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____

  9. B Minor   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____

10. F Minor   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____

11. E Minor   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____

12. D# Minor   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____

13. C# Minor   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____

14. A# Minor   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____

15. G Minor   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____   _____

 

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Exercise 10: 1) A B C D E F G A  2) G# A# B C# D# E F# G#  3) D E F G A Bb C D 

4) Eb F Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb  5) F# G# A B C# D E F 6) Bb C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb 

7) C D Eb F G Ab Bb8) Ab Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab  9) B C# D E F# G A B 

10) F G Ab Bb C Db Eb11) E F# G A B C D E  12) D# E# F# G# A# B C# D# 

13) C# D# E F# G# A B C#  14) A# B# C# D# E# F# G# A# 15) G A Bb C D Eb F G

 

Copyright © 2008-2011 Kenneth J. Maxwell Jr.