Minor Tonality
Each major scale has a relative minor. All this means is that there is a minor scale that has the same key signature as each major scale. The relative minor is found 3 semitones below its relative major. For a complete list see the "Rules-guidelines" page. From now on, don't assume that a piece is automatically in a major key. It may be in the relative minor key.
A minor scale using no accidentals (# or b) is called a natural minor scale. This is also the same thing as a mode called the Aoelian mode.
A minor scale with a raised 7th is called Harmonic minor. This is the scale we get our chords from in the harmony question.
A minor scale with a raised 6th and 7th ascending which are cancelled again descending is called a Melodic minor scale. We need to know this scale for melody writing and for adding the Bassline in the harmony question.
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Below, observe 2 examples of a minor scale
A minor scale using no accidentals (# or b) is called a natural minor scale. This is also the same thing as a mode called the Aoelian mode.
A minor scale with a raised 7th is called Harmonic minor. This is the scale we get our chords from in the harmony question.
A minor scale with a raised 6th and 7th ascending which are cancelled again descending is called a Melodic minor scale. We need to know this scale for melody writing and for adding the Bassline in the harmony question.
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Below, observe 2 examples of a minor scale
Note that the sharpened 6th and 7th in this key is A natural and B natural. That's because they are flat in the key signature.
We should HEAR if a tonality is minor. THE FOLLOWING 8 CLIPS ARE LISTENING EXERCISES. USE THEM TOGETHER WITH YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF MINOR THEORY AND SIGHT SINGING TO HEAR MINOR TONALITY.
We should also SEE minor tonality by looking at the music and applying our knowledge of theory. The following are minor melodies you should be familiar with. These are really worth studying with just minor theory in mind. Some of them are difficult for various reasons.