Minor Scales, Key Signatures and Relative Keys

1. Minor Scales, Key Signatures and Relative Keys

2. Minor Scales A Minor Scale: Remember: all minor scales follow the same pattern of tones and semi-tones. Pattern: Tone – Semitone – Tone – Tone – Semitone – Tone – Tone

3. When Writing Minor Scales: REMEMBER: • There should be 8 notes. • The first note and the last note should be the same. • Every letter name must appear at least once. • Follow the interval pattern T-S-T-T-S-T-T. • The notes B/C and E/F are one semi-tone apart. • A sharp raises a note by one semi-tone. • A flat lowers a note by one semi-tone.

4. Example Minor Scales F Minor: C# Minor:

5. Order of Sharps

6. Order of Flats

7. Key Signatures • Just like major scale key signatures, the order of sharps and flats can be used to determine minor scale key signatures. • Use the order of sharps to determine key signatures containing sharps. • Use the order of flats to determine key signatures containing flats.

8. Key Signatures with Sharps: Remember: E is the minor scale that has one sharp. Five scales (F/C/G/D/A) have a sharp in their name.

9. Key Signatures with Flats: Remember: D is the minor scale that has one flat. Three scales (B/E/A) have a flat in their name.

10. Relative Keys When a major scale and a minor scale share the same key signature (the same number of sharps or flats) they are called relative keys. For example: • A is the relative minor key of C major. • C is the relative major key of A minor.