Each of the groups discussed in this minor scales section could be said to be different "shadings" within the minor tonal environment. As we better understand their essence, perhaps we may be better able to fine tune our emotional statement, kinda like when the right word just won't come to mind, it's right on the tip of the tongue. Then vwala! Same idea with the music, different scales make different colors, different colors create different moods, our moods evolve as we move through the music, we shape the direction and intensity through our conscience awareness, we tell a beautiful story, a goofy joke, a tall tale about our impressions from everyday life or our spiritual awakenings as we unravel the riddles of our universe and pass our discovered truths along to others through our written music and / or through our improvisations. Wow, we can do all that in our music? Of course we can ... but you knew that yes ...?
The following charts and musical example are created to help the reader experience the metamorphosis of one idea through the varying "moods" created by the evolution of the pentatonic minor scale into the other common minor colors. Here is a chart to "recap" the minor groupings of pitches using the pitch A for the root of our scales. Below the chart is realized in the musical example. Example 1.
| formula | -3rd | 1 | 1 | -3rd | 1 | ||||||||
| pent. minor scale | A | C | D | E | G | A |
| formula | -3rd | 1 | 1/2 | 1 | -3rd | 1 | |||||||
| minor blues scale | A | C | D | D# | E | G | A |
| formula | 1 | 1/2 | 1 | 1 | 1/2 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| natural minor scale | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | A |
| formula | 1 | 1/2 | 1 | 1 | 1/2 | - 3rd | 1 | ||||||
| harm. minor scale | A | B | C | D | E | F | G# | A |
| formula | 1 | 1/2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1/2 | ||||||
| mel. minor minor | A | B | C | D | E | F# | G# | A |
So, from the above chart it looks like most of the "variable minor action" is located on the 6 th and 7th degrees. With the F# and G# of the melodic minor, looks like we are heading towards the major scale color n'est pas? In the following music, a simple scalar idea passes through in turn each of the pentatonic, natural, harmonic and melodic minor colors, picking up the character of that grouping as the line passes through. So, five shadings of the minor tonality, in A minor. Example 1a.
| minor pentatonic |
minor blues |
natural minor |
harmonic minor |
melodic minor |
Are you able to hear and sense the subtle changing of the minor colors? Cool.
Minor church modes. Lets go through the same process with the church modes that bring forth the minor tonality. Same approach as above, evolving one melodic idea through each of the four minor modes. Here is a chart to "recap" the modes / pitches to be used. Example 2.
| formula | 1 | 1/2 | 1 | 1 | 1/2 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Aeolian minor | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | A |
| formula | 1 | 1/2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1/2 | 1 | ||||||
| Dorian minor | A | B | C | D | E | F# | G | A |
| formula | 1/2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1/2 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Phryg. minor | A | Bb | C | D | E | F | G | A |
| formula | 1/2 | 1 | 1 | 1/2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Locrian minor | A | Bb | C | D | Eb | F | G | A |
The following music takes one melodic idea and filters it through the various minor modal colors. Example 2a.
| Aeolian | Dorian | Phrygian | Locrian |
Here the subtle differences? Each of these ancient scales potentially creates its own distinctive mood. Our task as artists is to try and capture and bring forth the modal essence in our creations. Not an all to easy task. To close this page, here are a few key things to perhaps consider in regards to the minor tonality.
| The "connection" of the 12 relative minor / major keys. |
| That by adding the "tritone" to the minor pentatonic scale creates the minor blues scale. |
| That by adding a "2 pitch tritone" into the minor pentatonic scale creates the natural minor scale and it's position within equal temper. |
| The alterations in the minor groups occur mainly on the 2nd, 6th and 7th scale degrees. |
| That there are four church modes with the minor coloring. |
Have a better sense of the different minor colors? Which is your favorite? Could you verbally explain why that color is your favorite if prompted? The reason I ask is that by explaining why a particular color is your favorite, the reasons may open up new doors of exploration and expression for you. Hey, isn't the diminished scale minor? So ... does natural minor = Aeolian mode = relative minor? Three labels, one sound?
| Where to next? | ||||
|
Knowledge is the most precious treasure of all things because it can never be given away, stolen or consumed. Sanskrit proverb
