9th-Grade Study Guide 3a

Minor Scales

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1. The five basic musicianship skills are Tone, Intonation, Technique, Rhythm, and Interpretation.
2. Learning scales will help us develop good technique.
3. The order of the flats is B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭.
4. The order of the sharps is the reverse order of the flats: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯, B♯.
5. Know the major key signatures. Being able to draw the following diagram might help:
   (Remember: CaliFornia B E A D Grand Canyon)
   
6. One way to find the minor key signature from the major key signature is to add three flats.
   For example: A♭Major has 4 flats. 4 flats + 3 flats = 7 flats, so a♭ minor has 7 flats.
7. When flats are added to sharps they cancel each other.
   For example: E Major has 4 sharps. Adding 3 flats cancels out 3 sharps, so e minor has 1 sharp.
8. Another way to find the minor key signature is the following:
   The minor key is the same as the major key three half steps higher.
   For example: C is three half steps higher than A. C major has no sharps or flats, therefore, A minor has no sharps or flats.
9. Know the minor key signatures. Being able to draw the following diagram might help:
   (Remember: All Dogs Get Caught For Biting Elementary Administrators)
   
10. Parallel major and minor scales begin on the same note.
    For example: C major and c minor both start on C.
11. Relative major and minor scales have the same key signature.
    For example: F major and d minor both have one flat.
12. The three forms of the minor scales are Natural, Harmonic, and Melodic.
13. The natural minor has the same key signature as its relative major with no changes. For example:

    C Major:	C	D	E	F	G	A	B	C	(no sharps of flats)
    a minor:	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	A	(no sharps of flats)

14. To form the harmonic minor from the natural minor, raise the seventh note one half step. For example:

    A natural minor:	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	A
    A Harmonic minor:	A	B	C	D	E	F	G♯	A

15. The melodic minor is formed by raising the sixth and seventh notes of the natural minor scale going up and then going down the natural minor without any changes. For example:

    A natural minor:

    A

    B

    C

    D

    E

    F

    G

    A

    G

    F

    E

    D

    C

    B

    A

    A Harmonic minor:

    A

    B

    C

    D

    E

    F♯

    G♯

    A

    G

    F

    E

    D

    C

    B

    A

16. Be able to recognize by sight and sound the difference between Major, natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scales. For example:

    A Major:

    A

    B

    C♯

    D

    E

    F♯

    G♯

    A

    a natural minor:

    A

    B

    C

    D

    E

    F

    G

    A

    a harmonic minor:

    A

    B

    C

    D

    E

    F

    G♯

    A

    a melodic minor:

    A

    B

    C

    D

    E

    F♯

    G♯

    A

    G

    F

    E

    D

    C

    B

    A