Scales & keys · Developing

Natural, harmonic, and melodic minor

Build minor keys and understand their expressive variations.

• Natural minor pattern: W–H–W–W–H–W–W
• Harmonic minor raises scale degree 7
• Classical melodic minor raises 6 and 7 ascending, then reverts to natural minor descending

Example: D natural minor: D–E–F–G–A–B♭–C–D. D harmonic minor raises C to C♯.