Natural Minor Scale

Seven-note diatonic collection with W-H-W-W-H-W-W; also known as Aeolian.

Minor Scale

The Minor Scale forms the darker, more introspective counterpart to the major scale. Its pattern of intervals shifts the position of the third, sixth, and seventh degrees, creating a new hierarchy of tension and resolution.

The most common form is the Natural Minor Scale (also called the Aeolian mode). It serves as the foundation for the Harmonic and Melodic minor variations used in jazz and classical music.

Formula (Natural Minor):

W – H – W – W – H – W – W

Scale Degrees

Degree	Name	Function (Roman)	Interval from Tonic	Nashville (1–5–4 etc.)
1	Tonic	i	Unison (0)	1
2	Supertonic	ii°	+2 semitones (Major 2nd)	2
3	Mediant	III	+3 semitones (Minor 3rd)	3
4	Subdominant	iv	+5 semitones (Perfect 4th)	4
5	Dominant	v	+7 semitones (Perfect 5th)	5
6	Submediant	VI	+8 semitones (Minor 6th)	6
7	Subtonic	VII	+10 semitones (Minor 7th)	7
8	Octave	i	+12 semitones	1 (repeats)

Note: in Harmonic Minor, the 7th degree is raised (creating a major 7th and strong leading tone).

In Melodic Minor (ascending), both 6th and 7th degrees are raised; descending, it reverts to the Natural Minor form.

Minor Scales in All Keys (Natural Minor)

Key	Notes (ascending)	Intervals (W/H pattern)
A Minor	A B C D E F G A	W H W W H W W
E Minor	E F♯ G A B C D E	W H W W H W W
B Minor	B C♯ D E F♯ G A B	W H W W H W W
F♯ Minor	F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D E F♯	W H W W H W W
C♯ Minor	C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A B C♯	W H W W H W W
G♯ Minor	G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯	W H W W H W W
D♯ Minor	D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯	W H W W H W W
A♯ Minor	A♯ B♯ C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯	W H W W H W W
D Minor	D E F G A B♭ C D	W H W W H W W
G Minor	G A B♭ C D E♭ F G	W H W W H W W
C Minor	C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C	W H W W H W W
F Minor	F G A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F	W H W W H W W
B♭ Minor	B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭	W H W W H W W
E♭ Minor	E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭	W H W W H W W
A♭ Minor	A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭	W H W W H W W