Scales reference
Natural Minor Scale
The natural minor scale is a seven-note pitch collection central to minor-key melody and harmony. It shares its interval structure with Aeolian mode.
Developing reference
Overview
Natural minor provides the unaltered diatonic collection associated with a minor tonic. Compared with major, its third, sixth, and seventh degrees are lower, producing different melodic and harmonic relationships.
Aeolian mode uses the same interval structure, but its reference emphasises modal position and its relationship to the major-scale family rather than replacing the natural-minor scale identity.
Construction
The seven-note collection follows the authoritative degree pattern shown here. Its lowered third establishes minor quality, while its seventh lies a whole tone below the tonic rather than functioning as a leading tone.
Characteristics
Natural minor combines a clear minor tonic with comparatively gentle motion from the seventh degree back to the tonic. Harmonic and melodic minor modify parts of this collection to create other melodic and harmonic possibilities.
Applications
The scale is a foundation for minor-key melodies, diatonic chord study, interval comparison, and recognising how altered minor forms depart from a common base collection.