minor

A series of tones that defines a minor tonality.

 

The natural minor scale has the same tones as the major scale, but  uses the sixth tone of the major scale as its tonic. Thus, the semitones (half steps) are between the second and third tones and the fifth and sixth tones, e.g.:

          C, D, E flat, F, G, A flat, B flat, C (ascending)

          C, B flat, A flat, G, F, E flat, D, C (descending)

 

The melodic minor scale is the same as the natural minor scale with the exception that the sixth and seventh tones are raised by a semitone (half step) when the scale is ascending. When the scale is descending, the melodic minor scale is the same as the natural minor, e.g.:

          C, D, E flat, F, G, A, B, C (ascending)

          C, B flat, A flat, G, F, E flat, D, C (descending)

 

 

The harmonic minor scale is the same as the natural minor, except that the seventh tone is raised by a semitone (half step) both ascending and descending, e.g.:

          C, D, E flat, F, G, A flat, B, C (ascending)

          C, B, A flat, G, F, E flat,D, C (descending)