The Aeolian mode is a very versatile scale that creeps up in lots of different genres. You’ll find it everywhere, from rock and pop music to gregorian chant and classical.

And in this post, we’ll be looking at some examples of songs that use the Aeolian mode to help you better understand this mode. Let’s dive in.

1. “Brothers in Arms” By Dire Straits

“Brothers in Arms” by Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler is an example of how the Aeolian mode can evoke an introspective atmosphere.

Written as a protest against war during the 1982 Falklands War, the song’s lyrics encourage listeners to reflect on the realities and consequences of conflict.

The use of the Aeolian mode, with its harmonies ebbing and flowing from the tonic minor chord, creates a sense of repose, fitting the song’s message of the somber and emotional consequences of war and brotherhood.

2. “All Along the Watchtower” By Bob Dylan

Next up, we have “All Along the Watchtower,” by Bob Dylan, who uses the Aeolian mode to create a haunting and introspective mood through the use of a simple chord progression.

The song follows the progression i-VII-VI-VII, using C minor, B flat major, A flat major, and B flat major chords. The use of these chords, especially the submediant major chord (VI) and the subtonic major chord (VII), adds tension and interest to the otherwise straightforward progression.

The repetitive structure of the song, with Dylan’s characteristic mouth organ interludes, allows the listener to fully immerse in the melancholic atmosphere created by the Aeolian mode. The serious, sober feel of the minor key further underscores the weight of the lyrics and the overall mood of the song.

Overall, Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” is a masterful example of how a simple chord progression in the Aeolian mode can evoke a powerful emotional response in the listener.

3. “I See Fire” By Ed Sheeran

“I See Fire” by Ed Sheeran is a melancholic and atmospheric ballad that features the Aeolian mode in its melody and harmonies. The song is a standout piece from the soundtrack of the 2013 film “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.”

With its use of the E Aeolian mode, the verses in “I See Fire” utilizes the i, VI, and VII chords, with a v°7 chord adding an unexpected twist to the end of each verse.

The Am7 chord in the chorus serves as a “deceptive” chord, deviating from the typical progression and adding interest to the overall harmony. This choice, combined with the repetitive chorus that ends on the tonic minor (i) chord, helps to reinforce the emotional and introspective tone of the song.

Ed Sheeran’s acoustic guitar takes center stage in “I See Fire,” contributing to the folk-like feel of the piece, which was desired by the film’s director. The song is also an enjoyable piece for intermediate guitarists, as it features memorable riffs and strumming patterns that can be easily played with the use of a capo.

4. “My Favorite Things” From The Sound of Music

Next, we have “My Favorite Things,” a song from the popular musical “The Sound of Music.” It was written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II and was first performed by Mary Martin on Broadway in 1959. Since then, it has become a beloved classic and has been covered by many artists.

This song is characterized by its upbeat melody, cheerful lyrics, and memorable chorus, is in the key of A minor, and, for the most part, its melody is rooted in the A aeolian mode. While the verses end with a sharpened seventh note and does modulate to the relative major.

5. “Rylynn” By Andy Mckee

“Rylynn” by Andy Mckee is a beautifully crafted fingerstyle guitar solo piece that showcases the acoustic guitar’s versatility and Mckee’s virtuosity.

Set in the key of A minor, the song features an altered tuning of E-C-D-G-A-D and uses a Shubb banjo capo on strings 4 to 6. The intricate fingerpicking and technicalities, coupled with the creative use of alternate tunings and the capo, make “Rylynn” a true delight for guitar enthusiasts and fans of fingerstyle guitar music.

Toward the end of the song, Andy Mckee plays a coda that leaves the listeners wondering if he changes the key. Does he modulate from A minor to its relative major, C major? “Rylynn” is a must-listen for anyone looking to delve into the world of fingerstyle guitar and explore the possibilities of this genre.

6. “Kyrie from Mass XI” – Gregorian Chant

“Kyrie from Mass XI” is a Gregorian chant that is believed to be in the D Aeolian mode. The piece is a classic example of modal music and is a great way to explore the sound and feel of the Aeolian mode.

In this particular piece, it is believed that the piece is in D aeolian mode, which is similar to the Dorian mode but with a flattened sixth scale degree. This is indicated in the score every time the sixth scale degree appears with a flat sign.

The piece showcases the beautiful harmonies and modal melodies that were typical of music in this style and period.

7. “Take Five” By Dave Brubeck Quarter

“Take Five” by Dave Brubeck Quarter is a popular jazz piece that features a catchy, modal melody. One of the most famous songs written in quintuple time, it’s also a good example of a piece that uses the aeolian mode, as well as its incorporation of the hexatonic blues scale.

The hexatonic blues scale is the minor pentatonic scale with an added ♭5 or ♯4. You can think of this as the aeolian mode without the second and sixth degrees, but with a color note, the added ♭5/ ♯4. 

The structure of the piece is in compound ternary form, with a sax solo and a drum solo in the middle section. Additionally, some parts of the song make use of the major scale, which shares the same notes as the aeolian mode, but with a different tonic.

8. “Beat It” By Michael Jackson

It’s commonly said that songs in a major key are “happy,” whereas songs in a minor key are “sad.” The reality is that this is an oversimplification.

Take ‘Beat It’ by Michael Jackson as an example. The chords, riffs, rhythm, and melody all lend themselves to the upbeat feel of the piece. No one would classify this as “sad.”

Yet the entire song uses just three chords: Em (i), D (VII), and C (VI) – Aeolian mode harmony. One can say that it draws its dominant and subdominant harmonies from the relative major, which, perhaps, helps keep the piece “light.”

9. “Something Just Like This” By The Chainsmokers & Coldplay

“Something Just Like This” by The Chainsmokers & Coldplay is a popular song that showcases the haunting and introspective mood of the Aeolian mode. Set in the key of B minor, the song utilizes a limited chord progression of just three to four chords centered around the G major chord.

The chord progressions used in the song, including VI-VII-i-VII, VI-VII-i-III, VI-III-VII, and III-VII-i, contribute to the melancholic atmosphere created by the Aeolian mode. The repetition of the “i” chord and the passing nature of the “III” chord further underscore the tonality of the song, solidifying its key as B minor rather than D major.

With its simple and repetitive structure, “Something Just Like This” allows the listener to fully immerse in the emotion conveyed by the Aeolian mode. The song is a testament to the power of simple chord progressions in evoking a strong emotional response from the listener.

10. “Part Of Me” By Katy Perry

To finish, here we have Katy Perry’s chart-topping hit “Part Of Me” which showcases the utilization of the Natural Minor scale.

The song features three-chord progressions in the key of A minor: (Am-C-F), (Am-C-F-G) and (Am-C-G). While the tonic is a minor chord (am), all of the other chords in the song are major, which gives it a unique sound that is quite deceptive. You wouldn’t be the first person to think it’s actually in C major!

Summing Up Our List Of Aeolian Mode Songs

All of the songs included in this article are great examples of how the aeolian mode can be used to create very varied musical works. From iconic artists such as Dave Brubeck to modern acts such as Katy Perry and Ed Sheran, it’s clear that creating memorable music with the aeolian mode is still very much in vogue today.

Whether you’re writing your own music or simply looking for inspiration, exploring different tonalities and modes can help you develop a more sophisticated appreciation for music and its effects.

The pentatonic scale is a musical scale that gets its name from the greek word pénte, which means five. That’s because it consists of five notes per octave – the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th degrees.

In this post, we’re going to take a look at 11 examples of songs that use the pentatonic scale in various genres. Let’s dive in!

Related: If you need a recap, check out our guide to the pentatonic scale here.

1. “Amazing Grace” By John Newton

One of the most iconic melodies of all time, “Amazing Grace,” is a popular hymn that is the perfect example of a song that uses the pentatonic scale.

While it’s not known who wrote the melody, it is based on an old folk tune called New Britain, it uses the major pentatonic scale exclusively.

The use of the pentatonic scale gives “Amazing Grace” a simple and elegant sound. The limited number of notes in its melody allows the song to focus on the emotion and message of the lyrics rather than being distracted by complex melodies or harmonies.

2. “Auld Lang Syne” By Robert Burns

Next on our list is “Auld Lang Syne,” a Scottish folk song that is often sung to bring in the New Year. It’s probably due to its sentimental and nostalgic lyrics that reflect on the past and look forward to the future.

With words written by legendary poet Robert Burns, Its melody uses the major form of the pentatonic scale, and when sung in its customary key, F major, it only uses the notes F, G, A, C, and D.

Interestingly, Joseph Haydn and Beethoven have their own arrangements for this song, which is probably one of the reasons why the melody has become so popular.

In the video above, Dougie MacLean lends a rather meditative feel to the piece. However, it is worth listening to Beethoven’s version as the song can be rendered as a brisk dance too. 

3. “Jeux d’eau” By Maurice Ravel

Switching gears from the folk tunes above, next we have a piece called “Jeux d’eau” which translates to “The play of water,” “Fountains,” or “Water Games,” written in 1901 by Maurice Ravel, who was 26 years old at the time.

It is said that French composers at the turn of the 20th century were looking for new musical ideas. Accordingly, the use of the pentatonic scale at the L’Esposition Universelle in Paris in 1889 had a lasting effect on Ravel and his contemporary Claude Debussy. 

“Jeux d’eau” makes great use of the pentatonic scale to paint, in impressionistic language, the “sound of water.” Do you hear the splashes, ripples, and currents? Do you like the oriental feel the pentatonic scales give this piece?

The pentatonic scale, which lacks a leading tone, coupled with the whole-tone scale, gives it a free and ethereal feel that doesn’t seem to have a tonal center. For an analysis of the work, check out this video.

4. “Sonnymoon for Two” By Sonny Rollins

From classical impressionist music to swinging jazz, the pentatonic scale is very flexible. One of the roots of jazz music is blues, which in turn makes generous use of the pentatonic scale.

“Sonnymoon for Two” is a jazz standard by Sonny Rollins. In the “head” (the theme stated upfront in the first 12-bar cycle), the soloists plays a melody that basically runs down the minor pentatonic scale.

As the piece goes on, the musicians enjoy the freedom to improvise and thus go beyond the confines of the pentatonic scale. However, as the piece draws to a close, the pentatonic theme is restated.

5. “Billie Jean” By Michael Jackson

Next, we look to the “King Of Pop” himself with one of Michael Jackson’s most famous songs and a chart-topper back in the day, “Billie Jean” makes use of the minor pentatonic scale in its memorable bass line. 

The song is in the key of F#m, and the bass part starts off with the notes: F#, B, C#, E. Later, when the bass moves upwards to support the Bm harmony, the notes are: B, F#, A, E.

Both these bass “riffs” derive from the F# minor pentatonic scale and is a great example of how the scale doesn’t just create memorable melodies but also bass riffs too!

6. “Sir Duke” By Stevie Wonder

One of my favorite tracks of all time, “Sir Duke,” was written by Stevie Wonder as a tribute to Duke Ellington, a jazz legend whose arrangements and vision shaped umpteen jazz musicians through the 20th century.

The song has many memorable moments, and one of particular interest is the riff that appears after the first three 32-bar cycles and then later on in the piece. 

The riff is based on the G# minor pentatonic scale, even though a few chromatic notes take the pentatonic scale into the realm of the blues.

Guitarists will love to play this riff, as the pentatonic scale favors easy left-hand finger patterns, while some alternate picking in the right-hand makes for a great challenge.

7. “Better Together” By Jack Johnson

Switching genres yet again, the next song on our list is “Better Together,” a hugely popular Jack Johnson track and one that proves that it doesn’t need more than five notes to create a modern crowd favorite.

The verse and chorus are based on the major pentatonic scale. Perhaps the way the melody moves, by steps up and down the scale, explains why it is so easy to recall.

Another Jack Johnson song that uses the pentatonic scale is Upside Down. This Jack Johnson song was featured in the 2006 animated movie Curious George. The opening guitar riff and the chorus use the notes of the E major pentatonic scale.

8. “Those Were The Days” By Charles Strouse and Lee Adams

Next, we look to the melody used for the opening theme of the classic American sitcom “All in the Family,” which makes generous use of the major pentatonic scale. In fact, the first couple of sections of “Those were the days” use just the five notes of the pentatonic.

If the song has a structure of A A B A B A, it’s only in section “B” that you hear the 7th of the scale. By stepping out of the pentatonic scale, Charles Strouse and Lee Adams bring variety and contrast to section “B.”

9. “Variations on a Korean Folk Song” By John Barnes Chance

A standard in band repertoire, “Variations on a Korean Folk Song” By John Barnes Chance, is a piece based on, you guessed it, a Korean folk song, “Arirang,” which is about 600 years old.

John Chance’s composition comprises a theme and five variations. The theme is built using the major pentatonic scale. It is said that Chance heard Arirang when on a bus in Korea.

The pentatonic scale is present in much of “world music,” for instance, Chinese music, Balinese Gamelan, African Folk songs, and even some Indian ragas. It is interesting to probe into the reason why so many diverse cultures around the world use the pentatonic scale or some flavor of it.

10. “My Girl” By The Temptations

“My Girl” is a song that helped The Temptations rise to the top of the charts, and today is recognized as a significant contribution to America’s musical heritage.

The song features a melody that is largely pentatonic. In fact, it deviates only at one point in the chorus, when the 4th degree of the scale is introduced. The pentatonic scale seems to free the melody of any element of tension, giving it an easygoing feel.

Behind the melody is an arpeggiated line played by a guitar that consists of the C major pentatonic scale followed by the F major pentatonic scale. That being said, the notes of the F major pentatonic scale are found in the C major scale.

So, instead of thinking in terms of a change in key, you can think of the riffs as a shift from tonic to subdominant harmony.

11. “Hey Brother” By Avicii

And finally, here’s a 21st-century piece that makes generous use of the minor pentatonic scale. The song “Hey Brother” By Avicii has a melody entirely drawn from it.

The keyboard riff that intersperses the singing introduces the 7th scale degree of the G natural minor scale. However, given the brief manner in which the 7th scale degree is used, you would be justified in thinking in terms of melodic decoration rather than a deviation from the pentatonic scale.

Summing Up

That about wraps up our look at some songs that use the pentatonic scale. We hope it’s helped you get a better idea of its sound.

One thing to take away from this article is just how versatile the pentatonic scale is. It’s found in so many different genres and styles, from African spirituals and Chinese folk music to Jazz standards, Irish jigs, and modern-day hits, the pentatonic scales own a place in every genre and culture.

In fact, the major and minor pentatonic scales appear to transcend all musical boundaries.

But, this list is far from a comprehensive list of songs written in the pentatonic scale. What other songs do you love that use it? Let us know, and we’ll add them in!

In this post, we’re going to be exploring the natural, melodic, and harmonic forms of A-Flat minor scale. So, if you’re ready to dive into the key of A-Flat minor, let’s get started!

A-Flat Natural Minor Scale

The first form of A-Flat minor that we will look at is the natural minor scale.

It’s made up of seven notes starting on Ab (which is known as the keynote). It then follows the natural minor scale formula of whole and half steps.

This gives us the notes: Ab Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb

As you can see, it has seven flat notes: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb and Fb

A-Flat Natural Minor Scale in the Treble Clef

Here are all the notes of A-Flat natural minor scale in the treble clef, ascending and descending.

A-Flat Natural Minor Scale in the Bass Clef

Next up, we have A-Flat natural minor scale in the bass clef, ascending and descending.

A-Flat Natural Minor Scale in the Alto Clef

The least common of all the clefs, here we have A-Flat natural minor scale in the Alto clef, ascending and descending.

A-Flat Natural Minor Scale in the Tenor Clef

And finally, here are all the notes of A-Flat natural minor scale in the tenor clef, ascending and descending.

Natural Minor Scale Formula

The natural minor scale, like every other type of scale, is constructed by using a certain combination of intervals between each note.

The formula, using whole steps and half steps, is:

Whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step.

This is abbreviated to W W H W W W H.

Using the British terminology of tones and semitones, this would be:

Tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone.

Which gets abbreviated to T S T T S T T.

A-Flat Harmonic Minor Scale

The next form of A-Flat minor scale we’ll look at is the A-Flat harmonic minor, which is slightly different from the natural minor in that it has a raised 7th note.

So, the notes in A-Flat harmonic minor are: Ab Bb Cb Db Eb Fb G

Like A-Flat natural minor, it also has a Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Cb, and Fb, but, notice that the seventh note is no longer a Gb but has been raised a half step to G natural.

A-Flat Harmonic Minor Scale in the Treble Clef

First, let’s look at A-Flat harmonic minor scale in the treble clef, ascending and descending.

A-Flat Harmonic Minor Scale in the Bass Clef

Next, we have A-Flat harmonic minor ascending and descending in the bass clef.

A-Flat Harmonic Minor Scale in the Alto Clef

The least common of all the clefs, here we have A-Flat harmonic minor ascending and descending in the alto clef.

A-Flat Harmonic Minor Scale in the Tenor Clef

And now we have A-Flat harmonic minor in the tenor clef, ascending and descending.

Hamonic Minor Scale Formula

The natural minor scale, like every other type of scale, is constructed by using a certain combination of intervals between each note.

The formula, using whole steps and half steps, is:

Whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole and a half step, half step.

This is abbreviated to W H W W H WH H.

Using the British terminology of tones and semitones, this would be:

Tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone and a semitone, semitone.

Which gets abbreviated to T S T T S TS S.

A-Flat Melodic Minor Scale

And the last type of minor scale we’ll look at is A-Flat melodic minor scale. This one is a bit different from the others, though.

When it’s ascending, it’s different from the natural in that its 6th and 7th notes are raised.

This gives us the notes: Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F G

But, when descending, the 6th and 7th notes are flattened.

This means that it’s the same as the natural minor scale when descending, giving us the notes: Gb Fb Eb Db Cb Bb Ab

A-Flat Melodic Minor Scale in the Treble Clef

Let’s take a look at A-Flat melodic minor scale in the treble clef, ascending and descending.

A-Flat Minor Scale in the Bass Clef

Next up, let’s take a look at A-Flat melodic minor scale ascending and descending in the bass clef.

A-Flat Melodic Minor Scale in the Alto Clef

Now we have A-Flat melodic minor scale in the alto clef, ascending and descending.

A-Flat Melodic Minor Scale in the Tenor Clef

And here’s A-Flat melodic minor scale in the tenor clef, ascending and descending.

What is the Key Signature of A-Flat Minor?

To make playing in a certain key easier for the musician to read, we can use a key signature.

This helps us know to play certain notes sharp or flat without having to read an accidental each time.

A-Flat minor has the same key signature as Cb major, which has seven flats in its key signature: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb and Fb

Here’s the key signature for A-Flat minor in the treble, alto, tenor, and bass clefs.

What is the Relative Major Scale of A-Flat Minor?

Every minor scale has a relative major scale, and every major one has a relative minor one. But what is the relative major scale of A-Flat minor?

The relative major scale of Ab minor is Cb major.

Here is Cb major scale, which uses all the same notes as A-Flat natural minor but starts on Cb, which is its keynote: Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb

But how do we know that Cb major is the relative major scale of Ab minor?

Well, to work out the relative major key of a minor one, all we have to do is go up three half steps (semitones).

So from Ab, we go up one half step to A, a second half step to Bb, and a third half step to Cb: Ab > A > Bb > Cb

To learn more about the relative major of A-Flat minor, see our guide to C-Flat major scale here.

Conclusion

That’s it for our guide to the scale of A-Flat minor! We hope it helped make a bit more sense of everything.

Feel free to use this post as a reference and let us know if you have any other questions.

In this post, we’re going to be exploring the natural, melodic, and harmonic forms of E-Flat minor scale. So, if you’re ready to dive into the key of E-Flat minor, let’s get started!

E-Flat Natural Minor Scale

The first form of E-Flat minor that we will look at is the natural minor scale.

It’s made up of seven notes starting on Eb (which is known as the keynote). It then follows the natural minor scale formula of whole and half steps.

This gives us the notes: Eb F Gb Ab Bb Cb Db

As you can see, it has six flat notes: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb and Cb

E-Flat Natural Minor Scale in the Treble Clef

Here are all the notes of E-Flat natural minor scale in the treble clef, ascending and descending.

E-Flat Natural Minor Scale in the Bass Clef

Next up, we have E-Flat natural minor scale in the bass clef, ascending and descending.

E-Flat Natural Minor Scale in the Alto Clef

The least common of all the clefs, here we have E-Flat natural minor scale in the Alto clef, ascending and descending.

E-Flat Natural Minor Scale in the Tenor Clef

And finally, here are all the notes of E-Flat natural minor scale in the tenor clef, ascending and descending.

Natural Minor Scale Formula

The natural minor scale, like every other type of scale, is constructed by using a certain combination of intervals between each note.

The formula, using whole steps and half steps, is:

Whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step.

This is abbreviated to W W H W W W H.

Using the British terminology of tones and semitones, this would be:

Tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone.

Which gets abbreviated to T S T T S T T.

E-Flat Harmonic Minor Scale

The next form of E-Flat minor scale we’ll look at is the E-Flat harmonic minor, which is slightly different from the natural minor in that it has a raised 7th note.

So, the notes in E-Flat harmonic minor are: Eb F Gb Ab Bb Cb D

Like E-Flat natural minor, it also has a Bb, Eb, Ab, Gb, and Cb, but, notice that the seventh note is no longer a Db but has been raised a half step to D natural.

E-Flat Harmonic Minor Scale in the Treble Clef

First, let’s look at E-Flat harmonic minor scale in the treble clef, ascending and descending.

E-Flat Harmonic Minor Scale in the Bass Clef

Next, we have E-Flat harmonic minor ascending and descending in the bass clef.

E-Flat Harmonic Minor Scale in the Alto Clef

The least common of all the clefs, here we have E-Flat harmonic minor ascending and descending in the alto clef.

E-Flat Harmonic Minor Scale in the Tenor Clef

And now we have E-Flat harmonic minor in the tenor clef, ascending and descending.

Hamonic Minor Scale Formula

The natural minor scale, like every other type of scale, is constructed by using a certain combination of intervals between each note.

The formula, using whole steps and half steps, is:

Whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole and a half step, half step.

This is abbreviated to W H W W H WH H.

Using the British terminology of tones and semitones, this would be:

Tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone and a semitone, semitone.

Which gets abbreviated to T S T T S TS S.

E-Flat Melodic Minor Scale

And the last type of minor scale we’ll look at is E-Flat melodic minor scale. This one is a bit different from the others, though.

When it’s ascending, it’s different from the natural in that its 6th and 7th notes are raised.

This gives us the notes: Eb F Gb Ab Bb C D

But, when descending, the 6th and 7th notes are flattened.

This means that it’s the same as the natural minor scale when descending, giving us the notes: Db Cb Bb Ab Gb F Eb

E-Flat Melodic Minor Scale in the Treble Clef

Let’s take a look at E-Flat melodic minor scale in the treble clef, ascending and descending.

E-Flat Minor Scale in the Bass Clef

Next up, let’s take a look at E-Flat melodic minor scale ascending and descending in the bass clef.

E-Flat Melodic Minor Scale in the Alto Clef

Now we have E-Flat melodic minor scale in the alto clef, ascending and descending.

E-Flat Melodic Minor Scale in the Tenor Clef

And here’s E-Flat melodic minor scale in the tenor clef, ascending and descending.

What is the Key Signature of E-Flat Minor?

To make playing in a certain key easier for the musician to read, we can use a key signature.

This helps us know to play certain notes sharp or flat without having to read an accidental each time.

E-Flat minor has the same key signature as Gb major, which has six flats in its key signature: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb and Cb.

Here’s the key signature for E-Flat minor in the treble, alto, tenor, and bass clefs.

What is the Relative Major Scale of E-Flat Minor?

Every minor scale has a relative major scale, and every major one has a relative minor one. But what is the relative major scale of E-Flat minor?

The relative major scale of Eb minor is Gb major.

Here is Gb major scale, which uses all the same notes as E-Flat natural minor but starts on Gb, which is its keynote: Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F

But how do we know that Gb major is the relative major scale of Eb minor?

Well, to work out the relative major key of a minor one, all we have to do is go up three half steps (semitones).

So from Eb, we go up one half step to E, a second half step to F, and a third half step to Gb: Eb > E > F > Gb

To learn more about the relative major of E-Flat minor, see our guide to G-Flat major scale here.

Conclusion

That’s it for our guide to the scale of E-Flat minor! We hope it helped make a bit more sense of everything.

Feel free to use this post as a reference and let us know if you have any other questions.

In this post, we’re going to be exploring the natural, melodic, and harmonic forms of B-Flat minor scale. So, if you’re ready to dive into the key of B-Flat minor, let’s get started!

B-Flat Natural Minor Scale

The first form of B-Flat minor that we will look at is the natural minor scale.

It’s made up of seven notes starting on Bb (which is known as the keynote). It then follows the natural minor scale formula of whole and half steps.

This gives us the notes: Bb C Db Eb F Gb Ab

As you can see, it has five flat notes: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db and Gb

B-Flat Natural Minor Scale in the Treble Clef

Here are all the notes of B-Flat natural minor scale in the treble clef, ascending and descending.

B-Flat Natural Minor Scale in the Bass Clef

Next up, we have B-Flat natural minor scale in the bass clef, ascending and descending.

B-Flat Natural Minor Scale in the Alto Clef

The least common of all the clefs, here we have B-Flat natural minor scale in the Alto clef, ascending and descending.

B-Flat Natural Minor Scale in the Tenor Clef

And finally, here are all the notes of B-Flat natural minor scale in the tenor clef, ascending and descending.

Natural Minor Scale Formula

The natural minor scale, like every other type of scale, is constructed by using a certain combination of intervals between each note.

The formula, using whole steps and half steps, is:

Whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step.

This is abbreviated to W W H W W W H.

Using the British terminology of tones and semitones, this would be:

Tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone.

Which gets abbreviated to T S T T S T T.

B-Flat Harmonic Minor Scale

The next form of B-Flat minor scale we’ll look at is the B-Flat harmonic minor, which is slightly different from the natural minor in that it has a raised 7th note.

So, the notes in B-Flat harmonic minor are: Bb C Db Eb F Gb A

Like B-Flat natural minor, it also has a Bb, Eb, Db and Gb but, notice that the seventh note is no longer an Ab but has been raised a half step to A natural.

B-Flat Harmonic Minor Scale in the Treble Clef

First, let’s look at B-Flat harmonic minor scale in the treble clef, ascending and descending.

B-Flat Harmonic Minor Scale in the Bass Clef

Next, we have B-Flat harmonic minor ascending and descending in the bass clef.

B-Flat Harmonic Minor Scale in the Alto Clef

The least common of all the clefs, here we have B-Flat harmonic minor ascending and descending in the alto clef.

B-Flat Harmonic Minor Scale in the Tenor Clef

And now we have B-Flat harmonic minor in the tenor clef, ascending and descending.

Hamonic Minor Scale Formula

The natural minor scale, like every other type of scale, is constructed by using a certain combination of intervals between each note.

The formula, using whole steps and half steps, is:

Whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole and a half step, half step.

This is abbreviated to W H W W H WH H.

Using the British terminology of tones and semitones, this would be:

Tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone and a semitone, semitone.

Which gets abbreviated to T S T T S TS S.

B-Flat Melodic Minor Scale

And the last type of minor scale we’ll look at is B-Flat melodic minor scale. This one is a bit different from the others, though.

When it’s ascending, it’s different from the natural in that its 6th and 7th notes are raised.

This gives us the notes: Bb C Db Eb F G A

But, when descending, the 6th and 7th notes are flattened.

This means that it’s the same as the natural minor scale when descending, giving us the notes: Ab Gb F Eb Db C Bb

B-Flat Melodic Minor Scale in the Treble Clef

Let’s take a look at B-Flat melodic minor scale in the treble clef, ascending and descending.

B-Flat Minor Scale in the Bass Clef

Next up, let’s take a look at B-Flat melodic minor scale ascending and descending in the bass clef.

B-Flat Melodic Minor Scale in the Alto Clef

Now we have B-Flat melodic minor scale in the alto clef, ascending and descending.

B-Flat Melodic Minor Scale in the Tenor Clef

And here’s B-Flat melodic minor scale in the tenor clef, ascending and descending.

What is the Key Signature of B-Flat Minor?

To make playing in a certain key easier for the musician to read, we can use a key signature.

This helps us know to play certain notes sharp or flat without having to read an accidental each time.

B-Flat minor has the same key signature as Db major, which has five flats in its key signature: Bb, Eb. Ab, Db and Gb

Here’s the key signature for B-Flat minor in the treble, alto, tenor, and bass clefs.

What is the Relative Major Scale of B-Flat Minor?

Every minor scale has a relative major scale, and every major one has a relative minor one. But what is the relative major scale of B-Flat minor?

The relative major scale of Bb minor is Db major.

Here is Db major scale, which uses all the same notes as B-Flat natural minor but starts on Db, which is its keynote: Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C

But how do we know that Db major is the relative major scale of B-Flat minor?

Well, to work out the relative major key of a minor one, all we have to do is go up three half steps (semitones).

So from B-Flat, we go up one half step to B, a second half step to C, and a third half step to Db: Bb > B > C > Db

To learn more about the relative major of B-Flat minor, see our guide to D-Flat major scale here.

Conclusion

That’s it for our guide to the scale of B-Flat minor! We hope it helped make a bit more sense of everything.

Feel free to use this post as a reference and let us know if you have any other questions.

In this post, we’re going to be exploring the natural, melodic, and harmonic forms of F minor scale. So, if you’re ready to dive into the key of F minor, let’s get started!

F Natural Minor Scale

The first form of F minor that we will look at is the natural minor scale.

It’s made up of seven notes starting on F (which is known as the keynote). It then follows the natural minor scale formula of whole and half steps.

This gives us the notes: F G Ab Bb C Db Eb

As you can see, it has four flat notes: Bb, Eb, Ab and Db

F Natural Minor Scale in the Treble Clef

Here are all the notes of F natural minor scale in the treble clef, ascending and descending.

F Natural Minor Scale in the Bass Clef

Next up, we have F natural minor scale in the bass clef, ascending and descending.

F Natural Minor Scale in the Alto Clef

The least common of all the clefs, here we have F natural minor scale in the Alto clef, ascending and descending.

F Natural Minor Scale in the Tenor Clef

And finally, here are all the notes of F natural minor scale in the tenor clef, ascending and descending.

Natural Minor Scale Formula

The natural minor scale, like every other type of scale, is constructed by using a certain combination of intervals between each note.

The formula, using whole steps and half steps, is:

Whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step.

This is abbreviated to W W H W W W H.

Using the British terminology of tones and semitones, this would be:

Tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone.

Which gets abbreviated to T S T T S T T.

F Harmonic Minor Scale

The next form of F minor scale we’ll look at is the F harmonic minor, which is slightly different from the natural minor in that it has a raised 7th note.

So, the notes in F harmonic minor are: F G Ab Bb C Db E

Like F natural minor, it also has a Bb, Ab and a Db, but, notice that the seventh note is no longer an Eb but has been raised a half step to E natural.

F Harmonic Minor Scale in the Treble Clef

First, let’s look at F harmonic minor scale in the treble clef, ascending and descending.

F Harmonic Minor Scale in the Bass Clef

Next, we have F harmonic minor ascending and descending in the bass clef.

F Harmonic Minor Scale in the Alto Clef

The least common of all the clefs, here we have F harmonic minor ascending and descending in the alto clef.

F Harmonic Minor Scale in the Tenor Clef

And now we have F harmonic minor in the tenor clef, ascending and descending.

Hamonic Minor Scale Formula

The natural minor scale, like every other type of scale, is constructed by using a certain combination of intervals between each note.

The formula, using whole steps and half steps, is:

Whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole and a half step, half step.

This is abbreviated to W H W W H WH H.

Using the British terminology of tones and semitones, this would be:

Tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone and a semitone, semitone.

Which gets abbreviated to T S T T S TS S.

F Melodic Minor Scale

And the last type of minor scale we’ll look at is F melodic minor scale. This one is a bit different from the others, though.

When it’s ascending, it’s different from the natural in that its 6th and 7th notes are raised.

This gives us the notes: F G Ab Bb C D E

But, when descending, the 6th and 7th notes are flattened.

This means that it’s the same as the natural minor scale when descending, giving us the notes: Eb Db C Bb Ab G F

F Melodic Minor Scale in the Treble Clef

Let’s take a look at F melodic minor scale in the treble clef, ascending and descending.

F Minor Scale in the Bass Clef

Next up, let’s take a look at F melodic minor scale ascending and descending in the bass clef.

F Melodic Minor Scale in the Alto Clef

Now we have F melodic minor scale in the alto clef, ascending and descending.

F Melodic Minor Scale in the Tenor Clef

And here’s F melodic minor scale in the tenor clef, ascending and descending.

What is the Key Signature of F Minor?

To make playing in a certain key easier for the musician to read, we can use a key signature.

This helps us know to play certain notes sharp or flat without having to read an accidental each time.

F minor has the same key signature as Ab major, which has four flats in its key signature: Bb, Eb, Ab and Db

Here’s the key signature for F minor in the treble, alto, tenor, and bass clefs.

What is the Relative Major Scale of F Minor?

Every minor scale has a relative major scale, and every major one has a relative minor one. But what is the relative major scale of F minor?

The relative major scale of F minor is Ab major.

Here is Ab major scale, which uses all the same notes as F natural minor but starts on Ab, which is its keynote: Ab Bb C Db Eb F G

But how do we know that Ab major is the relative major scale of F minor?

Well, to work out the relative major key of a minor one, all we have to do is go up three half steps (semitones).

So from F, we go up one half step to Gb, a second half step to G, and a third half step to Ab: F > Gb > G > Ab

To learn more about the relative major of F minor, see our guide to A-Flat major scale here.

Conclusion

That’s it for our guide to the scale of F minor! We hope it helped make a bit more sense of everything.

Feel free to use this post as a reference and let us know if you have any other questions.

In this post, we’re going to be exploring the natural, melodic, and harmonic forms of C minor scale. So, if you’re ready to dive into the key of C minor, let’s get started!

C Natural Minor Scale

The first form of C minor that we will look at is the natural minor scale.

It’s made up of seven notes starting on C (which is known as the keynote). It then follows the natural minor scale formula of whole and half steps.

This gives us the notes: C D Eb F G Ab Bb C

As you can see, it has three flat notes: Bb, Eb and Ab

C Natural Minor Scale in the Treble Clef

Here are all the notes of C natural minor scale in the treble clef, ascending and descending.

C Natural Minor Scale in the Bass Clef

Next up, we have C natural minor scale in the bass clef, ascending and descending.

C Natural Minor Scale in the Alto Clef

The least common of all the clefs, here we have C natural minor scale in the Alto clef, ascending and descending.

C Natural Minor Scale in the Tenor Clef

And finally, here are all the notes of C natural minor scale in the tenor clef, ascending and descending.

Natural Minor Scale Formula

The natural minor scale, like every other type of scale, is constructed by using a certain combination of intervals between each note.

The formula, using whole steps and half steps, is:

Whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step.

This is abbreviated to W W H W W W H.

Using the British terminology of tones and semitones, this would be:

Tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone.

Which gets abbreviated to T S T T S T T.

C Harmonic Minor Scale

The next form of C minor scale we’ll look at is the C harmonic minor, which is slightly different from the natural minor in that it has a raised 7th note.

So, the notes in C harmonic minor are: C D Eb F G Ab B

Like C natural minor, it also has an Eb and an Ab, but, notice that the seventh note is no longer a Bb but has been raised a half step to B natural.

C Harmonic Minor Scale in the Treble Clef

First, let’s look at C harmonic minor scale in the treble clef, ascending and descending.

C Harmonic Minor Scale in the Bass Clef

Next, we have C harmonic minor ascending and descending in the bass clef.

C Harmonic Minor Scale in the Alto Clef

The least common of all the clefs, here we have C harmonic minor ascending and descending in the alto clef.

C Harmonic Minor Scale in the Tenor Clef

And now we have C harmonic minor in the tenor clef, ascending and descending.

Hamonic Minor Scale Formula

The natural minor scale, like every other type of scale, is constructed by using a certain combination of intervals between each note.

The formula, using whole steps and half steps, is:

Whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole and a half step, half step.

This is abbreviated to W H W W H WH H.

Using the British terminology of tones and semitones, this would be:

Tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone and a semitone, semitone.

Which gets abbreviated to T S T T S TS S.

C Melodic Minor Scale

And the last type of minor scale we’ll look at is C melodic minor scale. This one is a bit different from the others, though.

When it’s ascending, it’s different from the natural in that its 6th and 7th notes are raised.

This gives us the notes: C D Eb F G A B

But, when descending, the 6th and 7th notes are flattened.

This means that it’s the same as the natural minor scale when descending, giving us the notes: Bb Ab G F Eb D C

C Melodic Minor Scale in the Treble Clef

Let’s take a look at C melodic minor scale in the treble clef, ascending and descending.

C Melodic Minor Scale in the Bass Clef

Next up, let’s take a look at C melodic minor scale ascending and descending in the bass clef.

C Melodic Minor Scale in the Alto Clef

Now we have C melodic minor scale in the alto clef, ascending and descending.

C Melodic Minor Scale in the Tenor Clef

And here’s C melodic minor scale in the tenor clef, ascending and descending.

What is the Key Signature of C Minor?

To make playing in a certain key easier for the musician to read, we can use a key signature.

This helps us know to play certain notes sharp or flat without having to read an accidental each time.

C minor has the same key signature as Eb major, which has three flats in its key signature: Bb, Eb and Ab

Here’s the key signature for C minor in the treble, alto, tenor, and bass clefs.

What is the Relative Major Scale of C Minor?

Every minor scale has a relative major scale, and every major one has a relative minor one. But what is the relative major scale of C minor?

The relative major scale of C minor is Eb major.

Here is Eb major scale, which uses all the same notes as C natural minor but starts on Eb, which is its keynote: Eb F G Ab Bb C D

But how do we know that Eb major is the relative major scale of C minor?

Well, to work out the relative major key of a minor one, all we have to do is go up three half steps (semitones).

So from C, we go up one half step to Db, a second half step to D, and a third half step to Eb: C > Db > D> Eb

To learn more about the relative major of C minor, see our guide to E-Flat major scale here.

Conclusion

That’s it for our guide to the scale of C minor! We hope it helped make a bit more sense of everything.

Feel free to use this post as a reference and let us know if you have any other questions.

In this post, we’re going to be exploring the natural, melodic, and harmonic forms of G minor scale. So, if you’re ready to dive into the key of G minor, let’s get started!

G Natural Minor Scale

The first form of G minor that we will look at is the natural minor scale.

It’s made up of seven notes starting on G (which is known as the keynote). It then follows the natural minor scale formula of whole and half steps.

This gives us the notes: G A Bb C D Eb F

As you can see, it has two flat notes: Bb and Eb

G Natural Minor Scale in the Treble Clef

Here are all the notes of G natural minor scale in the treble clef, ascending and descending.

G Natural Minor Scale in the Bass Clef

Next up, we have G natural minor scale in the bass clef, ascending and descending.

G Natural Minor Scale in the Alto Clef

The least common of all the clefs, here we have G natural minor scale in the Alto clef, ascending and descending.

G Natural Minor Scale in the Tenor Clef

And finally, here are all the notes of G natural minor scale in the tenor clef, ascending and descending.

Natural Minor Scale Formula

The natural minor scale, like every other type of scale, is constructed by using a certain combination of intervals between each note.

The formula, using whole steps and half steps, is:

Whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step.

This is abbreviated to W W H W W W H.

Using the British terminology of tones and semitones, this would be:

Tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone.

Which gets abbreviated to T S T T S T T.

G Harmonic Minor Scale

The next form of G minor scale we’ll look at is the G harmonic minor, which is slightly different from the natural minor in that it has a raised 7th note.

So, the notes in G harmonic minor are: G A Bb C D Eb F#

Like G natural minor, it also has two flats, (Bb and Eb), but, notice that the seventh note is raised from an F to F#.

G Harmonic Minor Scale in the Treble Clef

First, let’s look at G harmonic minor scale in the treble clef, ascending and descending.

G Harmonic Minor Scale in the Bass Clef

Next, we have G harmonic minor ascending and descending in the bass clef.

G Harmonic Minor Scale in the Alto Clef

The least common of all the clefs, here we have G harmonic minor ascending and descending in the alto clef.

G Harmonic Minor Scale in the Tenor Clef

And now we have G harmonic minor in the tenor clef, ascending and descending.

Hamonic Minor Scale Formula

The natural minor scale, like every other type of scale, is constructed by using a certain combination of intervals between each note.

The formula, using whole steps and half steps, is:

Whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole and a half step, half step.

This is abbreviated to W H W W H WH H.

Using the British terminology of tones and semitones, this would be:

Tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone and a semitone, semitone.

Which gets abbreviated to T S T T S TS S.

G Melodic Minor Scale

And the last type of minor scale we’ll look at is G melodic minor scale. This one is a bit different from the others, though.

When it’s ascending, it’s different from the natural in that its 6th and 7th notes are raised.

This gives us the notes: G A Bb C D E F#

But, when descending, the 6th and 7th notes are flattened.

This means that it’s the same as the natural minor scale when descending, giving us the notes: F Eb D C Bb A G

G Melodic Minor Scale in the Treble Clef

Let’s take a look at G melodic minor scale in the treble clef, ascending and descending.

G Melodic Minor Scale in the Bass Clef

Next up, let’s take a look at G melodic minor scale ascending and descending in the bass clef.

G Melodic Minor Scale in the Alto Clef

Now we have G melodic minor scale in the alto clef, ascending and descending.

G Melodic Minor Scale in the Tenor Clef

And here’s G melodic minor scale in the tenor clef, ascending and descending.

What is the Key Signature of G Minor?

To make playing in a certain key easier for the musician to read, we can use a key signature.

This helps us know to play certain notes sharp or flat without having to read an accidental each time.

G minor has the same key signature as Bb major, which has two flats in its key signature: Bb and Eb

Here’s the key signature for G minor in the treble, alto, tenor, and bass clefs.

What is the Relative Major Scale of G Minor?

Every minor scale has a relative major scale, and every major one has a relative minor one. But what is the relative major scale of G minor?

The relative major scale of G minor is Bb major.

Here is Bb major scale, which uses all the same notes as G natural minor but starts on Bb, which is its keynote: Bb C D Eb F G A

But how do we know that Bb major is the relative major scale of G minor?

Well, to work out the relative major key of a minor one, all we have to do is go up three half steps (semitones).

So from G, we go up one half step to Ab, a second half step to A, and a third half step to Bb: G > Ab > A> Bb

To learn more about the relative major of G minor, see our guide to B-Flat major scale here.

Conclusion

That’s it for our guide to the scale of G minor! We hope it helped make a bit more sense of everything.

Feel free to use this post as a reference and let us know if you have any other questions.

In this post, we’re going to be exploring the natural, melodic, and harmonic forms of D minor scale. So, if you’re ready to dive into the key of D minor, let’s get started!

D Natural Minor Scale

The first form of D minor that we will look at is the natural minor scale.

It’s made up of seven notes starting on D (which is known as the keynote). It then follows the natural minor scale formula of whole and half steps.

This gives us the notes: D E F G A Bb C

As you can see, it has one flat note: Bb

D Natural Minor Scale in the Treble Clef

Here are all the notes of D natural minor scale in the treble clef, ascending and descending.

D Natural Minor Scale in the Bass Clef

Next up, we have D natural minor scale in the bass clef, ascending and descending.

D Natural Minor Scale in the Alto Clef

The least common of all the clefs, here we have D natural minor scale in the Alto clef, ascending and descending.

D Natural Minor Scale in the Tenor Clef

And finally, here are all the notes of D natural minor scale in the tenor clef, ascending and descending.

Natural Minor Scale Formula

The natural minor scale, like every other type of scale, is constructed by using a certain combination of intervals between each note.

The formula, using whole steps and half steps, is:

Whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step.

This is abbreviated to W W H W W W H.

Using the British terminology of tones and semitones, this would be:

Tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone.

Which gets abbreviated to T S T T S T T.

D Harmonic Minor Scale

The next form of D minor scale we’ll look at is the D harmonic minor, which is slightly different from the natural minor in that it has a raised 7th note.

So, the notes in D harmonic minor are: D E F G A Bb C#

Like D natural minor, it also has one flat, (Bb), but, notice that the seventh note is raised from a C to C#.

D Harmonic Minor Scale in the Treble Clef

First, let’s look at D harmonic minor scale in the treble clef, ascending and descending.

D Harmonic Minor Scale in the Bass Clef

Next, we have D harmonic minor ascending and descending in the bass clef.

D Harmonic Minor Scale in the Alto Clef

The least common of all the clefs, here we have D harmonic minor ascending and descending in the alto clef.

D Harmonic Minor Scale in the Tenor Clef

And now we have D harmonic minor in the tenor clef, ascending and descending.

Hamonic Minor Scale Formula

The natural minor scale, like every other type of scale, is constructed by using a certain combination of intervals between each note.

The formula, using whole steps and half steps, is:

Whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole and a half step, half step.

This is abbreviated to W H W W H WH H.

Using the British terminology of tones and semitones, this would be:

Tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone and a semitone, semitone.

Which gets abbreviated to T S T T S TS S.

D Melodic Minor Scale

And the last type of minor scale we’ll look at is D melodic minor scale. This one is a bit different from the others, though.

When it’s ascending, it’s different from the natural in that its 6th and 7th notes are raised.

This gives us the notes: D E F G A B C#

But, when descending, the 6th and 7th notes are flattened.

This means that it’s the same as the natural minor scale when descending, giving us the notes: C Bb A G F E D

D Melodic Minor Scale in the Treble Clef

Let’s take a look at D melodic minor scale in the treble clef, ascending and descending.

D Melodic Minor Scale in the Bass Clef

Next up, let’s take a look at D melodic minor scale ascending and descending in the bass clef.

D Melodic Minor Scale in the Alto Clef

Now we have D melodic minor scale in the alto clef, ascending and descending.

D Melodic Minor Scale in the Tenor Clef

And here’s D melodic minor scale in the tenor clef, ascending and descending.

What is the Key Signature of D Minor?

To make playing in a certain key easier for the musician to read, we can use a key signature.

This helps us know to play certain notes sharp or flat without having to read an accidental each time.

D minor has the same key signature as F major, which has one flat in its key signature: Bb

Here’s the key signature for D minor in the treble, alto, tenor, and bass clefs.

What is the Relative Major Scale of D Minor?

Every minor scale has a relative major scale, and every major one has a relative minor one. But what is the relative major scale of D minor?

The relative major scale of D minor is F major.

Here is F major scale, which uses all the same notes as D natural minor but starts on F, which is its keynote: F G A Bb C D E

But how do we know that F major is the relative major scale of D minor?

Well, to work out the relative major key of a minor one, all we have to do is go up three half steps (semitones).

So from D, we go up one half step to Eb, a second half step to E, and a third half step to F: D > Eb > E> F

To learn more about the relative major of D minor, see our guide to F major scale here.

Conclusion

That’s it for our guide to the scale of D minor! We hope it helped make a bit more sense of everything.

Feel free to use this post as a reference and let us know if you have any other questions.

In this post, we’re going to be exploring the natural, melodic, and harmonic forms of A-Sharp minor scale. So, if you’re ready to dive into the key of A-Sharp minor, let’s get started!

A-Sharp Natural Minor Scale

The first form of A-Sharp minor that we will look at is the natural minor scale.

It’s made up of seven notes starting on A-Sharp (which is known as the keynote). It then follows the natural minor scale formula of whole and half steps.

This gives us the notes: A# B# C# D# E# F# G#

A-Sharp Natural Minor Scale in the Treble Clef

Here are all the notes of A-Sharp natural minor scale in the treble clef, ascending and descending.

A-Sharp Natural Minor Scale in the Bass Clef

Next up, we have A-Sharp natural minor scale in the bass clef, ascending and descending.

A-Sharp Natural Minor Scale in the Alto Clef

The least common of all the clefs, here we have A-Sharp natural minor scale in the Alto clef, ascending and descending.

A-Sharp Natural Minor Scale in the Tenor Clef

And finally, here are all the notes of A-Sharp natural minor scale in the tenor clef, ascending and descending.

Natural Minor Scale Formula

The natural minor scale, like every other type of scale, is constructed by using a certain combination of intervals between each note.

The formula, using whole steps and half steps, is:

Whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step.

This is abbreviated to W W H W W W H.

Using the British terminology of tones and semitones, this would be:

Tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone.

Which gets abbreviated to T S T T S T T.

A-Sharp Harmonic Minor Scale

The next form of A-Sharp minor scale we’ll look at is the A-Sharp harmonic minor which is slightly different from the natural minor in that it has a raised 7th note.

So, the notes in A-Sharp harmonic minor are: A# B# C# D# E# F# Gx

Notice that the seventh note is raised from a G# to a Gx.

A-Sharp Harmonic Minor Scale in the Treble Clef

First, let’s look at A-Sharp harmonic minor scale in the treble clef, ascending and descending.

A-Sharp Harmonic Minor Scale in the Bass Clef

Next, we have A-Sharp harmonic minor ascending and descending in the bass clef.

A-Sharp Harmonic Minor Scale in the Alto Clef

The least common of all the clefs, here we have A-Sharp harmonic minor ascending and descending in the alto clef.

A-Sharp Harmonic Minor Scale in the Tenor Clef

And now we have A-Sharp harmonic minor in the tenor clef, ascending and descending.

Hamonic Minor Scale Formula

The natural minor scale, like every other type of scale, is constructed by using a certain combination of intervals between each note.

The formula, using whole steps and half steps, is:

Whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole and a half step, half step.

This is abbreviated to W H W W H WH H.

Using the British terminology of tones and semitones, this would be:

Tone, semitone, tone, tone, semitone, tone and a semitone, semitone.

Which gets abbreviated to T S T T S TS S.

A-Sharp Melodic Minor Scale

And the last type of minor scale we’ll look at is A-Sharp melodic minor scale. This one is a bit different from the others, though.

When it’s ascending, it’s different from the natural in that its 6th and 7th notes are raised.

This gives us the notes: A# B# C# D# E# Fx Gx

But, when descending, the 6th and 7th notes are flattened.

This means that it’s the same as the natural minor scale when descending, giving us the notes: G# F# E# D# C# B# A#

A-Sharp Melodic Minor Scale in the Treble Clef

Let’s take a look at A-Sharp melodic minor scale in the treble clef, ascending and descending.

A-Sharp Melodic Minor Scale in the Bass Clef

Next up, let’s take a look at A-Sharp melodic minor scale ascending and descending in the bass clef.

A-Sharp Melodic Minor Scale in the Alto Clef

Now we have A-Sharp melodic minor scale in the alto clef, ascending and descending.

A-Sharp Melodic Minor Scale in the Tenor Clef

And here’s A-Sharp melodic minor scale in the tenor clef, ascending and descending.

What is the Key Signature of A-Sharp Minor?

To make playing in a certain key easier for the musician to read, we can use a key signature.

This helps us know to play certain notes sharp or flat without having to read an accidental each time.

A# minor has the same key signature as C# major, which has seven sharps in its key signature: F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E# and B#

Here’s the key signature for A-Sharp minor in the treble, alto, tenor, and bass clefs.

What is the Relative Major Scale of A-Sharp Minor?

Every minor scale has a relative major scale, and every major one has a relative minor one. But what is the relative major scale of A-Sharp minor?

The relative major scale of A-Sharp minor is C-Sharp major.

Here is C-Sharp major scale, which uses all the same notes as A-Sharp natural minor but starts on C-Sharp, which is its keynote: C# D# E# F# G# A# B#

But how do we know that C-Sharp major is the relative major scale of A-Sharp minor?

Well, to work out the relative major key of a minor one, all we have to do is go up three half steps (semitones).

So from A#, we go up one half step to B, a second half step to C, and a third half step to C#: A# > B > C > C#

To learn more about the relative major of A-Sharp minor, see our guide to C-Sharp major scale here.

Conclusion

That’s it for our guide to the scale of A-Sharp minor! We hope it helped make a bit more sense of everything.

Feel free to use this post as a reference and let us know if you have any other questions.