#AP Music Theory: Minor Scales - Your Ultimate Review 🎶

Hey there, future music maestro! Let's dive into the world of minor scales and make sure you're totally prepped for the AP exam. This guide is designed to be your go-to resource, especially the night before the test. Let's get started!

#Minor Scales: An Overview

Just like major scales, minor scales are built from the notes of their corresponding major scales. Remember from Unit 1.4 that a parallel key is a major and minor key that share the same tonic. But there's more to it than that! There are three types of minor scales, each with its own unique flavor:

• Natural Minor
• Harmonic Minor
• Melodic Minor

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• Pattern: Whole step-half step-whole step-whole step-half step-whole step-whole step

• To get the parallel natural minor of a major scale, simply flatten the 3rd, 6th, and 7th scale degrees.

• Relative Minor: You can also build a natural minor by starting on the 6th degree of a major scale using the same notes. For example, A natural minor is the same as C major, starting on A: A B C D E F G A

  • C Major and a minor are relative keys.
  • Remember: C Major (capitalized) vs. a minor (lowercase) is the standard notation. Use both lowercase and the word "minor" on the AP exam (e.g., d minor).

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• Take the natural minor and raise (sharp) the 7th scale degree.
• This creates a strong leading tone, which our ears love because it creates a half-step resolution to the tonic.

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• Ascending: Raise (sharp) both the 6th and 7th scale degrees of the natural minor.
• Descending: Use the natural minor scale (cancel the sharps).
• This is called melodic minor because it makes melodies easier to write and perform, avoiding the awkward augmented 2nd interval in the harmonic minor.

#When to Use Which Minor? 🤷

• Finding Relative Minor: Go down three half steps from the major key. Example: A is three half steps below C, so a minor is the relative minor of C Major.

#Minor Scale Degrees

Let's break down the scale degrees in minor scales. They're similar to major scales, but with key differences:

1. Tonic: The 1st degree, the starting pitch and point of resolution. 🏠
2. Supertonic: The 2nd degree, a major second above the tonic. Tension point. 😬
3. Mediant: The 3rd degree, a minor third above the tonic. Transitional. 🚶
4. Subdominant: The 4th degree, a perfect fourth above the tonic. Stability. ⚓
5. Dominant: The 5th degree, a perfect fifth above the tonic. Major tension. 💥
6. Submediant: The 6th degree, a minor sixth above the tonic. Transitional. 🚶
7. Leading Tone: The 7th degree, a major seventh above the tonic. Strong pull to tonic. 🧲

#Chords in Minor

• Tonic (i): Minor chord (due to the flat 3rd).
• Supertonic (ii): Usually a fully diminished chord (ii°), but sometimes half-diminished (iiø) if the 6th is raised.
• Mediant (III): Usually a major chord (III), but can be augmented if the 7th is sharped, but we avoid augmented chords in this case.
• Dominant (V): We do sharp the 7th to create a major V chord for a strong V-i resolution. 💡

Here's a handy chart:

#Practice Time! 🏋️‍♀️

Practice Question

Okay, let's test your skills! Below is a major scale. Identify the key and write out all three forms of its relative minor scale:

Solution:

1. Identify the Major Key: The last sharp is C#, so this is D Major.

2. Find the Relative Minor: Go down three half steps from D, which gives you B. So, b minor is the relative minor.

3. Write the Natural Minor: Same key signature as D Major, start on B: B C# D E F# G A B

   

4. Write the Harmonic Minor: Sharp the 7th (A#): B C# D E F# G A# B

   

5. Write the Melodic Minor: Sharp 6th and 7th ascending, natural minor descending: B C# D E F# G# A# B (ascending), B A G F# E D C# B (descending)

   

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the pattern of whole and half steps in a natural minor scale? (a) W-W-H-W-W-W-H (b) W-H-W-W-H-W-W (c) H-W-W-H-W-W-W (d) W-H-W-H-W-H-W

2. Which scale degree is altered in a harmonic minor scale compared to its natural minor counterpart? (a) 2nd (b) 5th (c) 6th (d) 7th

3. In a melodic minor scale, what happens to the 6th and 7th scale degrees when descending? (a) They are both raised (b) They are both lowered (c) They revert to the natural minor scale (d) The 6th is raised, and the 7th is lowered

Free Response Question:

Compose a four-measure melody in a minor key of your choice. Include at least one instance of the harmonic minor scale and one instance of the melodic minor scale. Annotate your score to show where you have used each scale. Provide a brief explanation of your choices.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Key Choice (1 point): Correctly identifies a minor key.
• Melody (2 points): Melody is coherent and uses notes within the chosen key.
• Harmonic Minor (2 points): Correctly uses the harmonic minor scale in at least one measure.
• Melodic Minor (2 points): Correctly uses the melodic minor scale in at least one measure.
• Annotation (1 point): Clearly annotates where each scale is used.
• Explanation (1 point): Provides a clear explanation of the choices made.

#Sight-Singing in Minor 🎤

For sight-singing in minor, solfege is your friend! Here's the solfege for the harmonic minor:

1. Tonic: "Do"
2. Supertonic: "Re"
3. Mediant: "Me" (flat 3rd)
4. Subdominant: "Fa"
5. Dominant: "So"
6. Submediant: "Le" (flat 6th)
7. Leading Tone: "Ti"

#Ear Training Challenge 🎧

Practice Question

Can you identify the type of minor scale you hear in these audio clips?

First Minor Scale

Second Minor Scale

Answers:

1. Harmonic Minor
2. Melodic Minor

#Final Exam Focus 🎯

Okay, you're almost there! Here's what to focus on for the AP exam:

• Minor Scale Types: Know the differences between natural, harmonic, and melodic minor scales inside and out. 💯
• Scale Degrees: Understand how each scale degree functions in minor keys, especially the leading tone. 💡
• Chords in Minor: Be able to build and recognize chords in minor keys, including diminished and half-diminished chords. 🎼
• Relative vs. Parallel: Know how to find relative and parallel minor keys. 🧭
• Solfege: Practice sight-singing using solfege in minor. 🎤

#Last-Minute Tips ✨

• Stay Calm: You've got this! Take deep breaths and trust your preparation.
• Read Carefully: Pay close attention to the wording of each question.
• Show Your Work: Even if you're not sure of the answer, write down your thought process. Partial credit is your friend!
• Trust Your Ear: If something sounds off, it probably is. Use your ear to double-check your answers.

You're now fully equipped to tackle the AP Music Theory exam with confidence. Go get 'em, and remember to have fun with the music! 🚀