Teaching Minor Scale(s)

[Standard8]

How do you teach the minor scales? Which one do you teach first? Harmonic, Melodic asc/desc, Dorian, Aeolian, basically, what's too much to throw on the plate at once and how do you portion it all out in a palatable way for a beginner?

[Virgman]

A beginner should learn the major scale and pentatonic scales first.

 

Then blues scale.

 

That's my opinion.

 

That in itself will take you a few years to really get.

[jonfinn]

How do you teach the minor scales? Which one do you teach first? Harmonic, Melodic asc/desc, Dorian, Aeolian, basically, what's too much to throw on the plate at once and how do you portion it all out in a palatable way for a beginner?

 

 

I don't think it really matters what scales are taught in what order

 

With beginners, I like to focus on encouraging the student to be excited and committed. I like to teach them things that will get them playing. I've found that if I do that, the students who are interested will start asking about scales and stuff. If they ask, they're much more likely to be interested in what you have to say.

[Standard8]

We are through the major, haven't done the pentatonic, I don't want the pentatonic to become a crutch like it did for me when it was taught to me.

[gennation]

Teach the Natural Minor scale first. Then teach the history and reasoning behind the Harmonic and then the Melodic Minor scales.

 

Plus, if you taught the Major scales already you should teach the Relative Minor and Major aspects.

 

Also, teach the leading tone importance in Minor Keys.

 

Have you taught Major Keys yet, and chord functions? Scales without the chords are pretty useless, like having the wood but never building the house.

 

Once you teach Major Keys, the Minor scales will be easier to comprehend based on Minor Keys due to chord functions. Using Minor Keys also helps in explaining the reason we have the other Minor Scales.

[Jasco]

I don't think it really matters what scales are taught in what order With beginners, I like to focus on encouraging the student to be excited and committed. I like to teach them things that will get them playing. I've found that if I do that, the students who are interested will start asking about scales and stuff. If they ask, they're much more likely to be interested in what you have to say.

 

 

I couldn't agree more. Well said.

[mmarinic]

Hey Gennation (or anyone else in the know), what's the leading tone importance in Minor Keys?

[gennation]

Hey Gennation (or anyone else in the know), what's the leading tone importance in Minor Keys?

 

 

The Major scale has a leading tone of a M7->R. In a Major Key this creates what's called a V-I or a Perfect Cadence.

 

The Natural Minor scale doesn't have a leading tone that creates a Perfect Cadence. The Nat Min scale has a b7->R leading tone creating a number of other types of Cadences, but not a Perfect Cadence. It creates a v-i Cadence.

 

So, the Harmonic Minor was "created" as a Nat Min scale but with a M7->R leading tone giving the "Minor Key" a more perfect Cadence. This gives you a V-i Cadence.

 

But, now you have this large Interval between the 6th and M7 in the Harm Min scale, this didn't lead to the most pleasing, or stable, melodies.

 

So, the Melodic Minor scale was "created" to fulfill the M7->R leading tone AND lessen the gap between the 6th and M7. This allowed for a smoother melody line and still had a strong Cadence.

 

I use the term "created" loosely for each of these scales.

 

If you're not familiar with Cadences you should definitely look them up, they explain a lot about Keys. And, you'll find how the Minor scale is "adjusted" to give it a strong Cadence.

[mmarinic]

I gather then that your original comment about "leading tone importance" refers to the development of harmonic and melodic minor scales?

Thanks for your response.

[gennation]

I gather then that your original comment about "leading tone importance" refers to the development of harmonic and melodic minor scales? Thanks for your response.

 

 

Yes, especially over V-i and ii-V-i progressions. And, also the diminished and augmented "development" that follows.