Minor

	Dorian
	Pentatonic
	Melodic
	Harmonic
	Natural or Pure
	Bebop No. 1
	Bebop No. 2
	Phrygian
	Diminished beginn with W step
	Blues

Dorian

The Dorian Mode is the second Mode of the major scale. In the Dorian mode the third step (Eb, transposed to C) is a minor third away from the root note and therefore has a minor characteristic. The Dorian scale differentiates itself only by a half note (A — Ab) from the natural minor scale. Here are the scales for comparison.

Click on the notes to hear the Dorian scale.

Scale	Note Sequence	Intervals	Transposed to C
Major scale	C D E F G A B C	W W H W W W H	C D E F G A B C
Dorian mode	D E F G A B C D	W H W W W H W	C D Eb F G A Bb C
Natural minor scale	D E F G A Bb C D	W H W W H W W	C D Eb F G Ab Bb C

Application

The Dorian mode is used more often than the natural minor scale, since the half note higher sixth degree (A) sounds dissonant with a seventh chord (e.g. Cm7 = C Eb G Bb).

Chords

Cm

Cm6

Cm7

Cm9

Dm11

Am13

The three classical minor scales

The Natural or Pure Minor scale is the VI mode (Aeolian mode) of the major scale. Increasing the seventh degree by half a note will create the Harmonic Minor scale. Increasing the sixth and seventh degree each by half a note will create the Melodic Minor scale.

Scale	Note Sequence	Intervals	Transposed to C
Natural Minor	A B C D E F G A	WHWWHWW	C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
Harmonic Minor	A B C D E F G# A	WHWWHTH	C D Eb F G Ab B C
Melodic Minor	A B C D E F# G# A	WHWWWWH	C D Eb F G A B C

Minor Pentatonic

If there is a Major Pentatonic there must be also a minor version of it! By the way it is the fifth mode of the Eb Major Pentatonic scale.

Here is the C Minor Pentatonic scale:

Click on the notes to hear the Minor Pentatonic scale.

C

Eb

F

G

Bb

C

TWWTW

A comparison of the Minor and Major Pentatonic scale

Scale	Note Sequence	Intervals	Transposed to C
Major Pentatonic	C D E G A C	WWTWT	C D E G A C
Minor Pentatonic	A C D E G A	TWWTW	C Eb F G Bb C

Application

An example in classical music of the Pentatonic scale is "Prélude à l'après-midi d' un faune" from the year 1894 by Debussy.

Application

The jazz pianist Mc Coy Turner demonstrates how much can be created from a relative simple scale.

Chords

Cm

Cm6

Cm7

Cm9

Dm11

D#maj

Parallel Major and Minor Pentatonic

Pentatonic scales can be used very often and are easy to play. Parallel Major and Minor Pentatonic have the same notes and key signatures.

Major Pentatonic
I Degree	II Degree	III Degree	V Degree	VI Degree	I Degree
C	D	E	G	A	C
C#	D#	F	G#	Bb	C#
D	E	F#	A	B	D
D#	F	G	Bb	C	D#
E	F#	G#	B	C#	E
F	G	A	C	D	F
F#	G#	Bb	C#	D#	F#
G	A	B	D	E	G
G#	Bb	C	D#	F	G#
A	B	C#	E	F#	A
Bb	C	D	F	G	Bb
B	C#	D#	F#	G#	B

If you begin with the I degree you get the major pentatonic.
If you begin with the VI degree you get the minor pentatonic.

Application of the Minor Pentatonic

Harmony	Position of the scale	Scale	Note Sequence
Cmaj7	Minor third ascending Major third ascending Major second ascending Minor second ascending	A Minor-Pentatonic E Minor-Pentatonic D Minor-Pentatonic B Minor-Pentatonic	A C D E G A E G A B D E D F G A C D B D E Gb A B
C7 alt	Same root note Minor third ascending Natural fourth ascending Major second ascending	C Minor-Pentatonic Eb Minor-Pentatonic F Minor-Pentatonic Bb Minor-Pentatonic	C Eb F G Bb C Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb F Ab Bb C Eb F Bb Db Eb F Ab Bb
C m7 C m-maj7	Same root note Major second ascending Natural fourth ascending	C Minor-Pentatonic D Minor-Pentatonic G Minor-Pentatonic	D F G A C D C Eb F G Bb C G Bb C D F G
Cm7b5	Minor third ascending	Eb Minor-Pentatonic	Bb Db Eb F Ab Bb

John Coltranes Minor Pentatonic

With this Minor Pentatonic J. Coltrane plays the Major Pentatonic (also Major color circle) but with a diminished III degree of course.

Here are the two scales for comparison.

J. Coltrane Pentatonic	C D Eb G A C
Major Pentatonic	C D E G A C

Sus Pentatonic

The Sus Pentatonic is the same as the Minor Pentatonic with the second note diminished by half a note.
The scale is not on the ScaleTwister, but is easily derived from the Minor Pentatonic. It is basically the second mode of the Bb Major Pentatonic.

Minor Ppentatonic	C Eb F G Bb C	T W W T W
Sus Pentatonic	C D F G Bb C	W T W T W

This scale is used for the so called sus-chords .

Chords

C7sus

Csus

C11

Melodic Minor

This scale is also called "Jazz Melodic Minor", because it is one of the most loved the jazz scales. In the classical theory Melodic Minor (F# and G#) is used in the upward motion, while in the downward motion the Natural Minor (F and G) is played. In jazz the Melodic Minor is used for upward and downward motion.

Click on the notes to hear the Melodic Minor scale.

Scale	Note Sequence	Intervals	Transposed to C
Major	C D E F G A B C	W W H W W W H	C D E F G A B C
Natuaral Minor	A B C D E F G A	W H W W H W W	C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
Melodic Minor	A B C D E F# G# A	W H W W W W H	C D Eb F G A B C

Look at the Melodic Minor scale transposed to C. It is the same as the major scale with a minor third! Simply play a Major scale and diminish the III degree by half a note!

Chords

Cm

Cm6

Cm7

Cm9

Cm-maj7

G7#9#5

G7alt

G7#9

G7b9

G7b9b5

The 7 Modes of the Melodic Minor Scale

Degree	Scale	Note Sequence	Intervals	Transposed to C
I	Melodic Minor	A B C D E F# G# A	W H W W W W H	C D Eb F G A B C
II	Phrygian #6	B C D E F# G# A B	H W W W W H W	C Db Eb F G A Bb C
III	Lydian expanded	C D E F# G# A B C	W W W W H W H	C D E F# G# A B C
IV	Lydian dominant	D E F# G# A B C D	W W W H W H W	C D E F# G A Bb C
V	Hindu	E F# G# A B C D E	W W H W H W W	C D E F G G# Bb C
VI	Locrian #2	F# G# A B C D E F#	W H W H W W W	C D Eb F Gb Ab Bb C
VII	Diminished Whole Note Scale *	G# A B C D E F# G#	H W H W W W W	C C# D# E F# G# Bb C

* Diminished Whole Tone scale see also Dom7 color circle.

Harmonic Minor

The Harmonic Minor scale has in comparison to the Natural Minor scale no Minor seventh but instead a Major seventh. The Natural Minor scale has a whole note step between the seventh and eighth degree and without the lead tone the gravitating effect towards the root note is missing.

Click on the notes to hear the Harmonic Minor scale.

Scale	Note Sequence	Intervals	Transposed to C
Natural Minor	A B C D E F G A	WHWWHWW	C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
Harmonic Minor	A B C D E F G# A	WHWWHTH	C D Eb F G Ab B C

The Gipsy-Minor scale is a variation of the Harmonic Minor scale and contains an additional lead tone to the dominant. (The Gipsy-Minor scale is not listed on the ScaleTwister)

Scale	Note Sequence	Intervals	Transposed to C
Harmonic Minor	A B C D E F G# A	WHWWHTH	C D Eb F G Ab B C
Gipsy-Minor	A B C D# E F G# A	WHTHHTH	C D Eb F# G Ab B C

Chords

C-Minor-Harmonic

Cm-maj7

F- Minor-Harmonic (Root not of the chord + Fourth)

C7alt

C7#9

C7#9#5

C7b9

C7b9b5

Natural Minor

The Natural or Pure Minor scale (aeolian mode) is the sixth degree of the Major scale.

Click on the notes to hear the Natural Minor scale.

Degree	Scale	Note Sequence	Intervals	Transposed to C
I	Major scale, Ionian	C D E F G A B C	W W H W W W H	C D E F G A B C
VI	Natural Minor	A B C D E F G A	W H W W H W W	C D Eb F G Ab Bb C

The Natural Minor scale contains besides the minor third (Eb) a minor sixth (Ab) and minor seventh (Bb). The minor sixth gives the scale a very velvety dark sound.

Application

The Natural Minor scale and the Major scale are parallel scales and contain in each case the same notes and key signatures. The Natural Minor scale is always a minor third lower than the Parallel Major scale. With the circle of fifths on the utilities color circle you can easily read off the Parallel Major and Minor scales with their key signatures.

Chords

Cm

Cm7

Cm9

Cm11

Cm7b6

A-Natural minor (Root note of the chord less minor third)

Cmaj7

Bebop

The Minor Bebop scale resembles the Dorian scale (II mode of the Major scale) and has an additional major third.

Click on the notes to hear the Bebop scale.

Here is the derivation:

Scale	Note Sequence	Intervals	Transposed to C
Major	C D E F G A B C	W W H W W W H	C D E F G A B C
Dorian mode	D E F G A B C D	W H W W W H W	C D Eb F G A Bb C
Minor Bebop scale	D E F F# G A B C D	W H H H W W H W	C D Eb E F G A Bb C

Application

This scale can be used in Jazz and Blues. From 1940 in Bebop the fifth (G) was more often played as a Blue-Note. The so called «flatted fifth»is the blue-Note between G and F#.

The expanded Mixolydian Blues scale is very similar to the Minor Bebop scale.

Minor Bebop scale	C D Eb E F G A Bb C
Exp. Blues scale	C D Eb E F Gb G A Bb C

Chords

Cm

Cm6

Cm7

Cm9

Dm11

Bebop #2

On the Minor color circle you can find even two Bebop variations! Here is the derivation again and a comparison of the two scales.

Click on the notes to hear the Bebop #2 scale.

Scale	Note Sequence	Intervals	Transposed to C
Major	C D E F G A B C	W W H W W W H	C D E F G A B C
Dorian mode	D E F G A B C D	W H W W W H W	C D Eb F G A Bb C
Minor Bebop scale 1	D E F F# G A B C D	W H H H W W H W	C D Eb E F G A Bb C
Minor Bebop scale 2	D E F G A Bb B C# D	W H W W H H W H	C D Eb F G G# A B C

The second variation has instead of the additional major third an additional augmented fifth. In addition also the diminished seventh is increased by a half note step and is given therefore a leading note character.

Phrygian

The Phrygian scale is the third mode of the Major scale.
A small journey to the modes of the major scale ?

Click on the notes to hear the Phrygian scale.

Here is the derivation:

Scale	Note Sequence	Intervals	Transposed to C
or scale (Ionian)	C D E F G A B C	WWHWWWH	C D E F G A B C
Phrygian Minor	E F G A B C D E	HWWWHWW	C Db Eb F G Ab Bb C

As the Dorian, the Aeolian and the Locrian mode is the Phrygian mode similar to the minor scale. All four modes have a minor III degree (Eb).

Chords

Cm7

Cm7b9

C7susb9

E-Phrygian (Root note of the chord and major third)

Cmaj7

Diminished begin with W-Step

The Whole Note — Half Note scale consists of eight notes and is a Diminished Symmetric scale. It is built by alternating whole and half note steps. The scale is simply called Diminished scale.

Click on the notes to hear the Diminished scale.

(The scale that is built by alternating whole and half note steps, but beginning with a half note step, you have already come across on the major color circle)

Transposing the Whole Note — Half Note scale, has only three different variations, respectively you can learn only 3 finger patterns.

In C	C	D	D#	F	F#	G#	A	B	First variation
In C#	C#	D#	E	F#	G	A	Bb	C	Second variation
In D	D	E	F	G	G#	Bb	B	C#	Third variation
In D#	D#	F	F#	G#	A	B	C	D	Same notes as in C

The fourth variation (D#) contains the same notes as the initial variation. The scales repeat themselves in intervals of a minor third. Here is a small overview:

C dim	D# dim	F# dim	A dim	First variation
C# dim	E dim	G dim	Bb dim	Second variation
D dim	F dim	G#dim	B dim	Third variation

Application

This scale is used with diminished chords that are often marked with a small circle.
All Symmetric scales should be used sparsely, because of their construction and sound they appear boring fast.

Chords

Chords	Noten
C° , Cdim	C D D# F F# G# A B C
Cm7b5	C D D# F F# G# A B C

Minor - Blues - Scale

For a Minor Blues the dominant chords are replaced by minor chords. Here  you can also play the General Blues scale over the whole progression.

Click on the notes to hear the Minor Blues scale.

General Blues Scale

The General Blues scale can always be used, no matter if it is a major or minor blues. It is an expanded Minor Pentatonic scale.

Scale	Note Sequence	Intervals
Pentatonic Minor scale	C Eb F G Bb C	TWWTW
General Blues scale	C Eb F Gb G Bb C	TWHHTW

To Blues scale overview

Chords

C7

C9

C11

C13

C7b5

C7#9

Minor Blues: Expanded General Blues Scale

Scale	Note Sequence	Intervals
Pentatonic Minor scale	C Eb F G Bb C	TWWTW
General Blues scale	C Eb F F# G Bb C	TWHHTW
Minor Blues	C D Eb F F# G Ab Bb C	WHWHHHWW

Chords

You can play the Minor Blues scale to all minor chords.

Application

The real Blue Notes are between Eb and E, Bb and B or Gb and G. With string instruments the effect is achieved by for example playing an Eb and at same time bending the string. For wind instruments the Blue Notes are played with the so called "lipping down" — lip technique, by playing for example an E and then altering the tone downwards.

Example of a Minor Blues Progression with suitable Scales:

Cm	Fm	Cm7	Cm7
C-Harmonic minor / C-Melodic minor / C-Dorian minor			Db-Melodic minor

Fm7	Fm7	Cm7	Cm7
F-Dorian minor / F-Harmonic minor		C-Harmonic-, Melodic-, Dorian minor

Gm7	Fm7	Cm7	Gm7 / Cm7
Eb-Melodic minor/ Eb-Major	Ab-Melodic minor	C-Harmonic-, Melodic-, Dorian minor