#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? 🤷