Which minor scale is the most common

Be sure to listen to this example carefully, and notice that the half- and whole-step pattern of the harmonic minor form of the minor scale is the same ascending and descending. Example 3. A G melodic minor scale. Be sure to listen to Example 3 carefully, and notice that the half- and whole-step pattern of the melodic minor form of the minor scale is not the same ascending and descending.

In its descending form, the melodic form of the minor scale is the same as the natural form of the minor scale. However, when descending the melodic form of the minor scale is unique. Example 4 shows four versions of a C scale—major, natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor:. Example 4. A major, natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scale, all starting on C. Scale degrees discussed below are identified in this example. You should listen to this example carefully, noting the aural differences between each scale.

The top line of text contains ASPN, while the next line contains scale degrees. Note that the scale degrees between major and minor do not change. Example 8. A descending D melodic minor scale. You may now notice that the ascending version of melodic minor sounds very conclusive, while the descending version which is the same as natural minor is much less conclusive.

Each note of a minor scale is also named with scale-degree names. The following table summarizes the scale-degree names used in minor scales:. Example 9. Scale-degree names in minor scales. Example 10 shows a B melodic minor scale, ascending and descending, with scale-degree names labeled:. As you can see, the melodic minor scale utilizes the leading tone in its ascending form, and the subtonic in its descending form. The following table is a helpful visual for learning about the three forms of the minor scale.

The three forms are put in order of the scale degrees which are lowered as compared to a major scale starting on the same note :. Example Lowered scale degrees of minor.

As you can see, natural minor scales have three lowered scale degrees, harmonic minor scales have two lowered scale degrees, and melodic minor scales have one lowered scale degrees in its ascending version. When comparing major and minor keys, there are two relationships that are important. We use the terms parallel minor and parallel major to describe this relationship.

For example, musicians would say that C major is the parallel major of C minor; likewise, they would say that C minor is the parallel minor of C major. The relative relationship is when a major key shares a key signature with a minor key. I'm talking chords here. I'm not necessarily talking strict theory I'm talking about practicality and what appears the most in songs from your experience.

It's still 1, 4 and 5, but with a subtle change. It's unusual to call the chords with reference to the relative major, as in vi, ii, and either iii or III. So, although minor tonic and subdominant chords don't buck this system, if we're talking about 'primary triads', V is going to be major. The answer to your question is i, iv, V. Yes, some minor modes have a minor V or rather v chord. But we're now in a world where 'primary triad' isn't a useful idea. In C minor, the G chord, including the leading note, B nat, has a powerful function.

G minor chord, not so much. In classical harmony, things are very clear. The main triads are in I, IV, and V degrees. There are three types of moles: natural, harmonious and melodic: natural a-c-e minor iv d-f-a minor v e-g-h minor a-c-e,minor iv d-f-a minor V e-G-h major melodic: a: i a-c-e minor IV d- F-a major V e- G-h. Sign up to join this community.

The best answers are voted up and rise to the top. Stack Overflow for Teams — Collaborate and share knowledge with a private group. Create a free Team What is Teams? Learn more. What are the primary or most common chords of the minor scale? Ask Question. Asked 3 years, 9 months ago. Active 3 years, 9 months ago. Viewed times. So if the primary chords in major are I IV V, what are the minor equivalent?

Improve this question. This is tonal music. The other version? The second one is using the harmonic minor scale on A. As we said, the difference is that it now has a leading tone, the 7th degree is sharpened:. The issue we now have with the harmonic minor is the distance between the 6th and 7th degrees.

This interval is called an augmented second and it sounds awkward in melodies of this style especially when the music is sung. This produces a smoother melody leading up to that tonic in bar 4.

And this is why the ascending form of the melodic minor scale is necessary. So in the melodic minor we get the 6th and 7th degrees sharpened on the way up, but back to their normal state on the way down:.

The natural minor, the harmonic minor and the melodic minor. Just for another example, here they are in G. First the scales and then with the triads built on them. Notice that because of the possible alterations of the 6th and 7th degrees, we also get several possibilities in creating chords. The only chord that never changes, in fact, is the tonic itself. G melodic minor ascending only. The descending form will be just the same as the natural minor.

Notice also, that raising or sharpening a flattened note makes it a natural not a sharp. In this case, the E flat becomes an E natural:. Do the three different types of minor scales use the same key signature? Since the three forms of minor scales are simple variations of each other, they use the same key signature.