Building A Minor Scale

The minor scale much like the major scale consists of 7 notes, however the pattern is arranged a bit different.

The minor scale pattern is arranged: Root – Whole Step – Half Step – Whole Step – Whole Step – Half Step – Whole Step – Whole Step – Octave.

Lets apply this to the C minor Scale

How do the Major and Minor Scales Differ?

The Minor Scale is actually a mode based from the major scale. The mode is called
Aeolian, but we will go into greater detail later. For now we want to discuss
what makes them different. First we must introduce the concept of flatened notes.
A flattened note is a note that is moved up half a step. So using our above
diagram we are if we moved the 2 of the minor scale up on fret it would be refered
to as a flatted 2nd. Lets look at how the following diagram overlays the major
and minor scales.

The ghosted out notes indicate where the interval or note in the scale would
be in the major scale. The green numbers indicate that the interval is now showing
up here in the minor scale. The green intervals are the flattened notes thus
creating a minor scale.

The lime green or flatted notes give the minor scale a different sound. The
sound created is sad, while the major scale sounds happy. By flatting the 3rd, 6th, and 7th we turn a major scale into a minor scale. We have only begun to delve into the scales, there are two other scales that have a minor tonality, all identified by the flatted 3rd.

Practice:

Practice playing the minor scale, paying close attention to how it sounds in contrast to the major scale. Pay special attention the the flatted 3rd.