Learning Minor Scales in All Keys
By following the formula for each type of minor scale, either by scale degrees or pattern of tones and semitones, it is possible to create any of the minor scales from any starting note. For example, if you know that the natural minor scale contains flattened 3rd, 6th and 7th degrees and you start with the note C, you would come up with the following notes, forming the C natural minor scale.
This example demonstrates a melody derived from the C natural minor scale.
If you know that the harmonic minor scale contains flattened 3rd, and 6th degrees, but a natural 7th degree, all you have to do to change the natural minor to the harmonic minor is sharpen the 7th degree by a semitone. Once again if you start with the note C, you would come up with the following notes -
Here is a melody derived from the C harmonic minor scale.
To change the harmonic minor to an ascending melodic minor you need to sharpen the 6th degree by a semitone. Starting with the note C, you would come up with the following notes.
The Classical form of the descending melodic minor is identical to the natural minor. To become familiar with the notes of minor scales in all keys, it is important to write out the three types of minor scales starting on each of the 12 notes of the chromatic scale.
The following example is a melody derived from the C melodic minor scale.
It is also important to be able to transpose melodies in minor keys. The process is the same as for major keys - write the scale degrees under the melody notes, and then work out what notes those degrees equate to in the key you want to transpose to. Just say you wanted to transpose the previous example to the key of A minor. First write out the notes of the melodic minor scales of both C minor and A minor with their scale degrees.
Then work out the degrees of the melody and write them out again in the key of A minor as shown in the following diagram.
Here is the same melody transposed to F minor. The key signature of F minor contains four flats, but the sixth and seventh degrees of the melodic minor are raised, so the notes D and E will be naturals. Remember to learn the notes of the scale first:
Then work out the degrees of the melody, and write them out again in the key of F minor.
