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Jazz Scales
 NATURAL MINOR SCALE
(or 'Aeolian mode')
Description
C | C# | D | Eb | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | Bb | B

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Description of the Natural minor scale

A natural minor scale consists of 7 different notes.
The intervals from note to note are :

tone - semitone - tone - tone - semitone - tone - tone

The scale can also be described as two tetrachords separated by one whole tone.
  • one minor tetrachord : tone - semitone - tone

  • one Phrygian tetrachord : semitone - tone - tone

The two tetrachords for the C natural minor scale are :

(minor tetrachord) C - D - Eb - F <-- tone --> G - Ab - Bb - C (Phrygian tetrachord)

Audio 1
C harmonic minor scale


The key signature for the natural minor scale is the same as its related major scale with its tonic note 3 semitones above.

For example the C natural minor scale is related to the Eb major scale, and shares that scale's key signature (3 flats).

Audio 2
Related scales


The natural minor scale or Aeolian mode is a mode of the major scale with its tonic note 3 semitones higher. The notes in each scale are the same, but their musical focal centre (tonal centres) are different Eb for one C for the other). This makes them sound distinctly different.
Both scales use the same key signature.
Eb major scale= Eb - F - G - Ab - Bb - C - D - Eb
C natural minor= C - D - Eb - F - G - Ab - Bb - C


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Here are the natural minor scales in all 12 keys listed in Circle of Fifths order.

  1. C natural minor scale - Key signature : 3 flats

    C - D - Eb - F - G - Ab - Bb - C


  2. G natural minor scale - Key signature : 2 flats

    G - A - Bb - C - D - Eb - F - G


  3. D natural minor scale - Key signature : 1 flat (Down - Up - Top)

    D - E - F - G - A - Bb - C - D


  4. A natural minor scale - Key signature : No flats or sharps

    A - B - C - D - E - F - G - A


  5. E natural minor scale - Key signature : 1 sharp

    E - F# - G - A - B - C - D - E


  6. B natural minor scale - Key signature : 2 sharps (Down - Up - Top)

    B - C# - D - E - F# - G - A - B


  7. F# natural minor scale - Key signature : 3 sharps

    F# - G# - A - B - C# - D - E - F#


  8. C# natural minor scale - Key signature : 4 sharps

    C# - D# - E - F# - G# - A - B - C#


  9. G# natural minor scale - Key signature : 5 sharps (Down - Up - Top)

    G# - A# - B - C# - D# - E - F# - G#


  10. Eb natural minor scale - Key signature : 6 flats

    Eb - F - Gb - Ab - Bb - Cb - Db - Eb


  11. Bb natural minor scale - Key signature : 5 flats

    Bb - C - Db - Eb - F - Gb - Ab - Bb


  12. F natural minor scale - Key signature : 4 flats (Up - Top)

    F - G - Ab - Bb - C - Db - Eb - F


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Copyright © 2004 Michael Furstner. All rights reserved.