Why Does the Minor Scale Have Three Forms?

When you first learn about the minor scale, it seems simple.

But then someone says there are three forms of minor scales.

These are natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor.

What?

Let me explain.

1. Natural Minor Scale

This is the simplest version. If you want to pretend there’s only one form of the minor scale, this is the one you would use.

In A minor, which has no sharps or flats, you just play the natural notes. This is the A natural minor scale.

2. Harmonic Minor Scale

Many years ago, musicians like Bach decided to sometimes add the raised seventh note in minor.

This was done to make certain harmonies sound different. When music teachers explain this, they call this alteration the harmonic minor scale.

3. Melodic Minor Scale

When musicians like Bach wrote melodies, they didn’t always like the leap from the minor sixth note to the raised seventh note.

So they started raising the sixth and seventh notes on the way up. When music teachers explain this, they call this the melodic minor scale.

On the way down, musicians usually return to the natural minor version of the sixth and seventh notes. See the natural minor scale above.

When you play pieces of music in a minor key, the bottom line is that you’ll sometimes see the raised sixth and seventh notes of the scale.

Knowing this will help you be better prepared to play these notes when they happen.

Keep making music!