The Natural A Minor Scale

What is the A Minor Scale?

The A minor scale is a collection of eight notes that starts and ends on A. Unlike major scales which sound bright and cheerful, minor scales have a more serious, sad, or mysterious quality. Just like the C major scale, the natural A minor scale uses exclusively white keys on the piano.

The Relative Minor Connection

Every major scale has a 'relative' minor scale that shares its exact same notes but starts on a different pitch. Because C major uses only white keys, A minor is its relative minor since it also uses only white keys. By shifting your home base from C to A, the mood of the music completely changes.

How to Build the Scale Pattern

To build a natural minor scale, you follow a specific pattern of whole steps (W) and half steps (H): W-H-W-W-H-W-W. Starting on A4, moving a whole step takes you to B, a half step to C, and so on, until you reach the next A. This specific spacing of steps is what gives the minor scale its unique, emotional sound.