Major and Minor Scales
Learn about the most important scales in Western music and understand their relationships.
Understanding Major and Minor Scales
Major and minor scales form the foundation of Western music. Understanding their construction, characteristics, and relationships is essential for composing, improvising, and analyzing music.
The Major Scale
Construction
Formula: W - W - H - W - W - W - H
Scale Degrees: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8
Example: C Major: C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C
Characteristics:
- Bright and stable sound
- Foundation of Western harmony
- Reference point for other scales
- Used in most popular music
Minor Scales
Natural Minor
Formula: W - H - W - W - H - W - W
Scale Degrees: 1 - 2 - ♭3 - 4 - 5 - ♭6 - ♭7 - 8
Example: A Minor: A - B - C - D - E - F - G - A
Characteristics:
- Dark, melancholic sound
- Also called Aeolian mode
- Parallel minor to C major
- Common in folk and rock music
Harmonic Minor
Formula: W - H - W - W - H - W+H - H
Scale Degrees: 1 - 2 - ♭3 - 4 - 5 - ♭6 - 7 - 8
Example: A Harmonic Minor: A - B - C - D - E - F - G♯ - A
Characteristics:
- Exotic, dramatic sound
- Raised 7th degree
- Creates strong dominant function
- Common in classical and jazz
Melodic Minor
Formula: W - H - W - W - W - W - H (ascending)
Scale Degrees: 1 - 2 - ♭3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 (descending uses natural minor)
Example: A Melodic Minor: A - B - C - D - E - F♯ - G♯ - A (ascending)
Characteristics:
- Smooth melodic motion
- Different ascending and descending
- Combines major and minor qualities
- Important in jazz improvisation
Major/Minor Relationships
Relative Major/Minor
Scales that share the same key signature
Example: C major and A minor
- Minor starts on 6th degree of major scale
- Same notes, different tonal center
- Common modulation technique
- Important for understanding harmony
Parallel Major/Minor
Scales that share the same tonic
Example: C major and C minor
- Same tonic, different key signatures
- Different notes but same root
- Used for modal mixture
- Creates dramatic contrast
Scale Degrees and Their Functions
Tonic (1)
Function: Home base, point of rest
Major Example: C in C major
Minor Example: A in A minor
Supertonic (2)
Function: Creates motion to dominant or tonic
Major Example: D in C major
Minor Example: B in A minor
Mediant (3)
Function: Defines major/minor quality
Major Example: E in C major
Minor Example: C in A minor
Subdominant (4)
Function: Creates motion away from tonic
Major Example: F in C major
Minor Example: D in A minor
Dominant (5)
Function: Creates tension, pulls to tonic
Major Example: G in C major
Minor Example: E in A minor
Submediant (6)
Function: Relative minor of major key
Major Example: A in C major
Minor Example: F in A minor
Leading Tone (7)
Function: Strong pull to tonic
Major Example: B in C major
Minor Example: G♯ in A harmonic minor
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Scale Construction
Practice building major and minor scales starting from different tonic notes.
Exercise 2: Scale Relationships
Identify relative and parallel major/minor pairs in different keys.
Exercise 3: Scale Degree Functions
Practice identifying and understanding the role of each scale degree.
Key Takeaways
- Major and minor scales are fundamental to Western music
- There are three types of minor scales: natural, harmonic, and melodic
- Relative and parallel relationships connect major and minor scales
- Each scale degree serves a specific musical function
- Understanding these scales is crucial for composition and analysis