Minor Scales Key Signatures and Relative Keys Minor

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

When Writing Minor Scales: REMEMBER: • 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. • 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.

Example Minor Scales F Minor: C# Minor:

Order of Sharps F C G D A E Father Charles Goes Down And Ends B Battle

Order of Flats B E A D G C F Battle 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 F# Sharps: C# G# D# A# / E B Number 3 of Sharps: 4 5 7 / 1 2 6 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 Number of 5 Flats: 6 Ab / D G C F 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.