(ALL) The 12 Minor Scales Formula & Pattern

Table of Contents

Introduction to Minor Scales:

Today, you will learn minor scales in music and its magic formula/pattern. Minor music scales is one of the most important aspects in music theory. It will help you understand aspects like “music key”, “music degrees” or harmony, but also they will help you improvise or improve your instrument technique. From Berlin School of Music, we encourage you to learn these pattern and master all of them!

Definition of Minor Scale in Music

A minor scale is a sequence of successive notes that forms one specific pattern or formula

All the minor scales has the same Formula or Pattern

The secret formula for a minor scale is:

T-S-T-T-S-T-T

T=Tone (whole-tone)
S=Semi-tone (half-tone)

Minor Scale Pattern-Example

(ALL) The 12 Minor Scales Formula & Pattern 1

2 Types of minor scales

Minor scales with flats (b)

In order to know if a music scale is a “flat scale”, first we need to know what the relative major scale is. How do we do this? Easy: We add 3 Semi-tones to the name of the scale. For example: Relative major of D minor is F major, because the distace between this two notes is exactly 3 Semi-tones. The next question is, does this major scale the term “flat” on its name? Yes – it is a flat scale. If not-it is a sharp scale. The only exception is F major scale, which doesn’t have the term flat on its name, but it is a flat scale. 

Minor scales with sharps (#)

In order to know if a scale is a “sharp scale” we need to do the same aforementioned process. Once we know what the relative major scale is, the question is: Does the name of the major scale contain a flat on its name? Yes – it is a flat scale. If not- it is a sharp scale. The only exception is F major scale, which doesn’t have the term flat on its name, but it is a flat scale. 

A minor doesn't have any flat or sharp!

Learn all the minor scales in music theory

In music theory we use the Key Signature to show the main scale in which the piece will be played. Yes, most of the pieces, especially in modern music, are written in only one scale, meaning that if you know how to play that scale you will be able to improvise and make your playing sound good automatically!

A minor scale (A minor)

A minor scale has no sharps or flats

A minor scale

E minor Scale (E Minor)

E minor scale has one sharp: F#, written at the beginning of that music scale

E minor scale

D minor Scale (D minor)

D minor scale has one flat: Bb, written at the beginning of that music scale

D minor scale

B minor Scale (B minor)

B minor scale has two sharps: F# and C#, written at the beginning of that music scale

B minor scale

G minor Scale (G minor)

G minor scale has two flats: Bb and Eb, written at the beginning of that music scale

b flat major scale

F# minor Scale (F# minor)

F# minor scale has three sharps: F#, C# and G#, written at the beginning of that music scale

f sharp minor scale

C minor Scale (C minor)

C minor scale has three flats: Bb, Eb and Ab, written at the beginning of that music scale

C minor scale

C# minor Scale (C# minor)

C# minor scale has four sharps: F#, C#, G# D#, written at the beginning of that music scale

C sharp minor scale

F minor Scale (F minor)

F minor scale has four flats: Bb, Eb, Ab and Db, written at the beginning of that music scale

f minor scale

G# minor Scale (G# minor)

G# minor scale has five sharps: F#, C#, G# D# and A#, written at the beginning of that music scale

g sharp minor scale

B flat minor Scale (Bb Minor)

B flat minor scale has five flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db and Gb, written at the beginning of that music scale

b flat minor scale

E flat minor Scale (Eb minor)

Eb minor scale has six flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb and Cb, written at the beginning of that music scale

e flat minor scale

Other minor scales

Harmonic minor scale = T-ST-T-T-ST-(T+ST)-ST

Melodic minor scale = T-ST-T-T-T-T-ST

Dorian scale = T-ST-T-T-T-ST-T

Learn more about music scales

In this article you can learn more about music scales and modes

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