Bass Lesson 09 - The 12 Minor Scales

After learning and understanding major scales and keys, you will be able to read through this article with little difficulty. You will need to understand how the step and half step intervals work together to make the major scale. Minor scales are relatively simple if you understand these few points. You will learn the major scale two ways. The first way is by comparing major scales to the chromatic scale with steps and half steps. The second way is by altering a few tones of the major scale to produce the minor scale.

We will be finding the A minor scale by following a simple pattern using the chromatic scale. A minor is a great scale to learn first because the notes are the same as the alphabet (no sharps or flats)! The pattern for minor scales differs from the major scales by a few tones. The pattern for any minor scale is step – half step – step – step – half step – step – step. Remember that a step is two semi tones or two frets, and a half step is one semi tone or one fret. When we lay this pattern over the A chromatic scale, we will find the A minor scale.

 
The top line of notes is the chromatic scale, and the bottom is the Am (A minor) scale. Between each note of the chromatic scale is a half step. Now you can see how the minor scale is played compared to the chromatic scale following the pattern of step – half step – step – step – half step – step – step.

The next way you can learn how to play the Am scale is to line it up against the Amaj scale. You can play the Am scale by lowering the 3rd, 6th, and 7th notes of the A chromatic scale. So instead of playing Db F# and Ab of the Amaj scale, you play C, F, and G to achieve the Am scale.

This image shows Amaj on the top and Am on the bottom. Notice how the 3rd, 6th, and 7th notes don't line up. These notes are the difference between a major and a minor scale. You can also learn how to play a minor scale by applying this formula to the major scale: 1 2 3b 4 5 6b 7b 8. This numerical formula shows which notes to flat on the major scale to produce the minor scale. However, the stepping patter is the method used more often.

Now for visual learners we can put this down on the fretboard. Below is the Amaj scale, just in case you forgot:

 

 

Remember: the pattern used to play the major scale can be moved around; whichever note you start on is the name of that major scale (in this case Amaj).

If we take that pattern and lower the 3rd, 6th, and 7th notes, we will get the minor scale pattern. The Am scale will be played like this:

 

 

This is the Am scale, the pattern used to play minor scales can be moved around just like major scales; just remember that whichever note you start on is the name of the scale, and the notes you play after that will determine if it is minor or major.

In music notation, key signatures will not always show if the key is major or minor. Since a scale like F minor has both G and G#, they will both be on the same line. This is where accidentals are used. Accidentals are just the sharp(#) and flat(b) symbols used in music to lower or raise the pitch of a note for a semi tone. To master the minor scale, simply memorize the pattern to the point that you are comfortable playing it all around the neck, especially focusing on playing it up and down two octaves.