How minor scales and keys relate to major ones and their steps
Since I covered major scales in my last music article, you may wonder, what are minor scales and keys? According to Piano Keyboard Guide, major keys have relative minors. Minor scales start at the sixth note of their relative major scales. For example, the C major scale is C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C. A minor, which is C major’s relative minor, is A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A. Therefore, although both scales have the same notes and key signatures, they start and end in a different note.
Piano Keyboard Guide also says the step formula for minor scales is W-H-W-W-H-W-W. Apply this to A Minor, and you take a whole step from A to B, half step to C, whole steps to D and E, a half step to F and a whole step to G.
According to Musical U, one way you can determine whether a key or scale is minor or major by hearing it is if you notice whether a tune seems bright, cheerful and happy. Minor sounds sadder and gloomy.
What are the minor scales?
According to Piano Music Theory, these are the following minor scales, as also shown in the above video:
A Minor: A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A
Bb Minor: Bb-C-Db-Eb-F-Gb-Ab-Bb
B Minor: B-C#-D-E-F#-G-A-B
C Minor: C-D-Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C
C# Minor: C#-D#-E-F#-G#-A-B-C#
D Minor: D-E-F-G-A-Bb-C-D
D# Minor: D#-E#-F#-G#-A#-B-C#-D#
E Minor: E-F#-G-A-B-C-D-E
F Minor: F-G-Ab-Bb-C-Db-Eb-F
F# Minor: F#-G#-A-B-C#-D-E-F#
G Minor: G-A-Bb-C-D-Eb-F-G
G# Minor: G#-A#-B-C#-D#-E-F#-G#
What are some popular songs in minor keys?
According to Hooktheory, here are a few popular songs in each key. The links show how you can play them.
A Minor: Hello by Lionel Richie, Losing My Religion by REM and I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor
Bb Minor: Everybody by Backstreet Boys, Waiting For Tonight by Jennifer Lopez and Believer by Imagine Dragons
B Minor: Hotel California by The Eagles, Bad Habits by Ed Sheeran and Wake Me Up by Avicii
C Minor: Sweet Dreams by Eurythmics, Too Late To Apologize by OneRepublic and Crazy by Gnarls Barkley
C# Minor: Counting Stars by OneRepublic, Oops I Did It Again by Britney Spears and Just Dance by Lady Gaga
D Minor: Like A Prayer by Madonna, In The Air Tonight by Phil Collins and Set Fire To The Rain by Adele
D# Minor: In The End by Linkin Park, Just A Dream by Nelly and Beat It by Michael Jackson
E Minor: Nothing Else Matters by Metallica, Bring Me To Life by Evanescence and Take Me To Church by Hozier
F Minor: Hello by Adele, What About Us by Pink and One More Night by Maroon 5
F# Minor: Wonderwall by Oasis, Billie Jean by Michael Jackson and Don’t Stop The Music by Rihanna
G Minor: Blue by Eiffel 65, At The Door by The Strokes and What I’ve Done by Linkin Park
G# Minor: Cry Me A River by Justin Timberlake, Survivor by Destiny’s Child and Snow (Hey Oh) by Red Hot Chili Peppers
My next music article will cover Mixolydian scales and keys. Have fun practicing with minor scales and keys!
