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Minor Key Signatures and Scales

Sometimes a composer or arranger chooses to write in a particular key to lend a special tonal color, or tonality, to a piece, Many of the musical excerpts you have studied so far have been written in a major key, and therefore have major tonalities, A composer often chooses to use a minor key to lend an introspective or sad quality to a piece,

There are three forms of the minor scale: the natural minor, the melodic minor, and the harmonic minor. Let's compare the familiar C major scale with the minor forms. Since all C minor scales use the same starting note as the C major scale, they are called the tonic minor of this major key. For this same reason, C major and C minor are also sometimes called parallel keys. Notice that the third, sixth, and seventh notes of the natural minor scale are lowered by one half-step. The melodic minor features a lowered third on the way up the scale, and a lowered third, sixth, and seventh on the way down. The third and sixth of the harmonic minor scale are lowered by one half-step, whether ascending or descending.

In order to avoid the routine writing of the accidentals necessary to create these minor forms, music written in the key of C minor features a key signature with three fiats (like the key of E-fiat major). This brings the need for accidentals to a minimum. In this key signature, an accidental is required only on the sixth and seventh degrees of the ascending C melodic minor scale-and on the seventh degree of the C harmonic minor scale.

Because the key of C minor uses the same key signature as E-fiat major, it is known as the relative minor of this major key. Correspondingly, the key of E flat major is known as the relative major of C minor. Presented below are all the harmonic and melodic scale forms in every minor key. The name of each relative major key is shown in parentheses. Notice that the relative major key is always three half-steps (a minor third) up from the note named by the corresponding minor key.

Take the time to practice playing or singing each of these minor scales until they become quite familiar.

Sharp Keys

Flat Keys

Further Study

Take the time to explore reading and playing the melody of your favorite songs, as well as ones that ore unfamiliar to you, You'll find hours of enjoyment reading through sheet music and song collections as you strengthen these important reading skills. Be sure to refer to a complete chord fingering chart for your instrument as you read and play, You may also wish to pursue an in-depth study of chord forms and structure, as is provided in any good music theory textbook, This further study is also advisable for those who wish to compose or arrange music,

A basic understanding of the more advanced theoretical aspects of written music can only serve to enhance your music reading skills, However, at this point, you have all the facts you need to be a knowledgeable and competent reader, The music store and music library will provide you with many new doorways to a lifetime of reading enjoyment,

More about Note Values and Rhythm