Minor Scales, Key Signatures and Relative Keys

Minor Scales

A Minor Scale:

Remember: all minor scales follow the same pattern of tones and semi-tones.

Pattern: Tone – Semitone – Tone – Tone – Semitone – Tone – Tone

When Writing Minor Scales:

• There should be 8 notes.• The first note and the last note should be the

same.• Every letter name must appear at least once.• Follow the interval pattern T-S-T-T-S-T-T.• The notes B/C and E/F are one semi-tone apart.• A sharp raises a note by one semi-tone.• A flat lowers a note by one semi-tone.

REMEMBER:

Example Minor ScalesF Minor:

C# Minor:

Order of Sharps

F C G D A E BFather Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle

Order of Flats

B E A D G C FBattle Ends And Down Goes Charles Father

Key Signatures

• Just like major scale key signatures, the order of sharps and flats can be used to determine minor scale key signatures.

• Use the order of sharps to determine key signatures containing sharps.

• Use the order of flats to determine key signatures containing flats.

Key Signatures with Sharps:

Order of Sharps:

F# C# G# D# A# / E B

Number of Sharps:

3 4 5 6 7 / 1 2

Remember: E is the minor scale that has one sharp. Five scales (F/C/G/D/A) have a sharp in their name.

Key Signatures with Flats:

Order of Flats:

Bb Eb Ab / D G C F

Number of Flats:

5 6 7 / 1 2 3 4

Remember: D is the minor scale that has one flat. Three scales (B/E/A) have a flat in their name.

Relative Keys

When a major scale and a minor scale share

the same key signature (the same number of

sharps or flats) they are called relative keys.

For example:

• A is the relative minor key of C major.

• C is the relative major key of A minor.