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Minor formula?


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Posted

generally the third defines minor/major. In the case of the major scale just start on the 2nd, 3rd or 6th note and you will have a minor scale.. Of course there are plenty of other minor scales but that should get you started.

Posted

The major scale formula is wwhwwwh. I can do this in all keys. Can someone tell me the formula for minor scales? Thanks a lot.
:)

 

Just shift the pattern over two notes to the right. In other words, make the 6th note of the major scale the 1st note of the minor scale:

 

Major:

 

1 w 2 w 3 h 4 w 5 w 6 w 7 h 1

 

shift it over:

 

6 w 7 h 1 w 2 w 3 h 4 w 5 w 6

 

Renumber it:

 

1 w 2 h b3 w 4 w 5 h b6 w b7 w 1

 

 

Alternatively, if you know the major scale well, just use this:

 

1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1

 

The numbers 1-7 represent their normal spot in the major scale. For example, 2 is usually a whole step above 1, and 3 is a whole step after that. For the minor scale, 2 is the same, but 3 is only a half step after 2, so it's written as "b3" ("flat three"). 4 and 5 are the same as they are in the major scale, and 6 and 7 are both a half step lower, so they're b6 and b7. You can extend this to any scale to speed up the process of learning a new one just by changing notes to the major scale, which presumably you already know well enough.

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Posted

In the key of C Major, the relative minor is a minor. It's found by going down a minor third which is a step and a half. This is done the same way in all keys. Every minor has three forms natural, harmonic, and melodic. The natural is played the same as C major but from a to a. In harmonic form the 7th scale degree is raised by a half step. In melodic form the 6th and 7th are raised by a half step on the way up the scale and lower back down a half step on the way down the scale.

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Posted

 

Just shift the pattern over two notes to the right. In other words, make the 6th note of the major scale the 1st note of the minor scale:


Major:


1 w 2 w 3 h 4 w 5 w 6 w 7 w 1


shift it over:


6 w 7 h 1 w 2 w 3 h 4 w 5 w 6


Renumber it:


1 w 2 h b3 w 4 w 5 h b6 w b7 w 1



Alternatively, if you know the major scale well, just use this:


1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1


The numbers 1-7 represent their normal spot in the major scale. For example, 2 is usually a whole step above 1, and 3 is a whole step after that. For the minor scale, 2 is the same, but 3 is only a half step after 2, so it's written as "b3" ("flat three"). 4 and 5 are the same as they are in the major scale, and 6 and 7 are both a half step lower, so they're b6 and b7. You can extend this to any scale to speed up the process of learning a new one just by changing notes to the major scale, which presumably you already know well enough.

 

 

I understand this but I have one question. Why is the second note not minor? I followed a link in the sticky thread called Ibreathmusic and it explained it the same except the second note was a minor. The first, fourth, fifth and eighth(octave)are perfect and never change.

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Posted

 

I understand this but I have one question. Why is the second note not minor?

 

 

Because the minor formula is: W H W W H W W

 

Also described as: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1 (compared to the major scale built off the same root)

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Posted

 

So would this be correct for the c minor scale:


c, d, d#, e#, g, g#, a#, c


I think it's right according to your formula:)

 

 

Yep that looks right but it looks better like this:

 

C D Eb F G Ab Bb C

 

You only want each letter once, and try to avoid using E# or B# in most cases.

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Posted

Yep that looks right but it looks better like this:


C D Eb F G Ab Bb C


You only want each letter once, and try to avoid using E# or B# in most cases.

 

Oops, my bad:facepalm:

 

Thanks, now I can write all 12 of these out and play the crap out of them.:)

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Posted

 

Just shift the pattern over two notes to the right. In other words, make the 6th note of the major scale the 1st note of the minor scale:


Major:


1 w 2 w 3 h 4 w 5 w 6 w 7 w 1

 

 

Shouldn't that be:

1 w 2 w 3 h 4 w 5 w 6 w 7 h 1

 

??

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