Why Do We Have 3 Minor Scales? - Music Theory

Music Matters
20 Aug 202010:20
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThe video explains the differences between the three minor scale types - natural, harmonic, and melodic - which causes confusion for many musicians. It emphasizes using the correct key signature for natural minor and not confusing it with modes. The harmonic minor raises the seventh note when going up and down. The melodic minor raises the sixth and seventh notes going up, but follows the key signature coming down, matching the natural minor. Having three minor scale options allows composers flexibility writing melodies and harmonies. Minor tonality evolved over time, needing these options to sound pleasing.

Takeaways
  • 😀 Every minor scale has a relative major scale that shares the same key signature
  • 😊 The natural minor scale uses only the accidentals in the key signature, no temporary alterations
  • 🤔 The natural minor scale should not be confused with modes that start on the same tonic note
  • 😯Raising the 7th degree of the scale by a semitone turns the natural minor into a harmonic minor
  • 🧐 Raising the 6th and 7th degrees going up and following the key signature coming down makes a melodic minor
  • 🤨 The descending melodic minor scale is the same as the natural minor scale
  • 😮 Harmonic minor works well for writing chords and harmony, melodic minor works better for melody
  • 🤓 The melodic minor smooths out the augmented 2nd interval that occurs in the harmonic minor scale
  • 🤩 Composers sometimes compromise between harmonic and melodic minor scales to avoid clashes
  • 😃 Natural minor is still commonly used, and some exams let you choose between minor scale types
Q & A

  • What are the three minor scales discussed in the video?

    -The three minor scales discussed are: natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor.

  • How is a major scale related to its relative minor scale?

    -A major scale and its relative minor scale share the same key signature. For example, C major and A minor both have no sharps or flats.

  • What is the difference between a natural minor scale and a mode?

    -A natural minor scale uses the key signature and accidentals of its relative major scale. A mode starts on any note and uses only the white notes, with no key signature.

  • How do you construct a harmonic minor scale?

    -To create a harmonic minor scale, start with the natural minor scale and raise the seventh degree by a semitone.

  • What happens to the sixth and seventh degrees in a melodic minor scale?

    -In a melodic minor scale, the sixth and seventh degrees are raised by a semitone when going up the scale, but follow the key signature when going back down.

  • Why does the melodic minor scale use different notes ascending and descending?

    -The melodic minor smooths out the augmented second interval between the sixth and raised seventh to create a better melody, but reverts to natural minor descending to enable smooth voice leading and harmony.

  • When writing music, when is each type of minor scale used?

    -Harmonic minor is used for writing harmony and chords. Melodic minor is used for writing melodies. Natural minor is used for instrumental music giving a choice between harmonic/melodic.

  • What causes the conflict of interest between harmonic and melodic minor scales?

    -The raised seventh degree used in harmonic minor creates an augmented second interval, which sounds dissonant in melodies, hence the different formulation of melodic minor.

  • What interval is smoothed out by raising the sixth and seventh degrees in melodic minor?

    -The augmented second interval between the sixth degree and raised seventh degree is smoothed out by also raising the sixth degree in melodic minor. This creates a more consonant melody.

  • Why were different minor scale formulations developed in music history?

    -As major/minor tonality developed after 1600, different minor scale variants were needed - harmonic minor for chords, melodic minor for melodies, and natural minor for flexibility in instrumental music.

Outlines
00:00
😃 Why a minor scale has a relative major

Paragraph 1 explains the relationship between major and minor scales, using the example of C major and A minor. It states that they share the same key signature with no sharps or flats. It emphasizes that a natural minor scale uses the key signature of its relative major.

05:02
🎵 How to build the 3 types of minor scales

Paragraph 2 provides instructions for constructing the 3 minor scales - natural, harmonic, and melodic. It explains how to raise certain degrees of the scale to create the different variations. It also notes the importance of using proper terminology like 'raise by a semitone' rather than 'sharpen'.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡minor scales
There are three types of minor scales in music - natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor. The video explains the differences between them. Minor scales contrast with major scales and are used to convey a darker, sadder mood in music composition and performance.
💡relative major/minor
Major and minor scales that share the same key signature are called relative major and relative minor. For example, C major and A minor have no sharps or flats, so they are relative. Knowing the relationship helps determine the key signature when writing a minor scale.
💡natural minor scale
The natural minor scale uses only the accidentals (sharps/flats) from its relative major key signature. It is written by starting and ending on the tonic minor chord and using the scale degrees from the key signature in order.
💡harmonic minor scale
The harmonic minor scale raises the 7th degree of the natural minor scale by a semitone when ascending and descending. This provides a stronger cadence, which is useful in harmony writing. An example is raising D to D# in E minor.
💡melodic minor scale
The melodic minor scale raises the 6th and 7th degrees of the natural minor scale by a semitone when ascending. When descending, it follows the natural minor. Raising these degrees eliminates the augmented 2nd interval to create smoother melodies.
💡modes
Modes are scales that start on a degree other than the tonic and follow the interval pattern of the major scale. Modes are different from minor scales. The video warns against confusing modes like the Phrygian mode with scales like E natural minor.
💡harmony writing
Harmony refers to combining notes simultaneously to produce chords/chord progressions. The harmonic minor scale works well for harmony writing because of the strong cadence its raised 7th degree provides.
💡melody writing
Melody refers to writing sequences of single notes. The melodic minor scale is preferred for melody writing because raising scale degrees 6 & 7 eliminates the jarring augmented 2nd interval.
💡tonality
Tonality refers to organizing music composition around focal (tonic) chords and scales with tensions that resolve to stable harmonies. Establishing major/minor tonality was a key development in Western music that led to the creation of different minor scale variants.
💡cadence
A cadence refers to the concluding chord progression that signals the end of a musical section or piece. The raised 7th degree in the harmonic minor scale strengthens the cadence by increasing tension that resolves to the tonic chord.
Highlights

Proposed a novel theory that challenges traditional assumptions

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Demonstrated for the first time how phenomenon X causes effect Y

Established a framework that connects previously disjoint concepts

Transcripts

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