Of all of our minor scale colors, does the natural minor group of pitches create the majority of the literature? Pretty much. What about the minor blues scale? In the blues style? The minor blues wins. But in other American styles, folk, pop and rock and country? Probably the natural minor scale.
Let's explore the basic intervals used to create the natural minor scale and examine few interval exercises to strengthen one's ability to recreate the sounds of an ancient minor color on their chosen instrument. Using the pitches of A minor, we simply measure the musical distance between the root and the other scale degrees, then create musical sequences using that interval. Here is a chart of the intervals and pitches. Example 1.
| interval | A to A | A up to B | A to C | A to D | A to E | A to F | A to G | A to A |
| interval name | unison | maj 2nd | min 3rd | per fourth | per fifth | min sixth | min seventh | octave |
The following musical ideas are part of a simplified look at the possible interval studies using the natural minor scale resource. For a more detailed look at intervals, click musical intervals.
Major and minor seconds, look familiar? Basically scalar by diatonic step. Example 2.
This next line is a very cool way to create scale wise passages. We simply approach each pitch by diatonic step from above. Example 3.
The above idea, when mastered, can be a very powerful generator of soaring, passionate lines.
Ascending in minor and major thirds. Example 4.
Alternating thirds, moving up and then down. Example 5.
Motion up and down in fourths. Example 6.
Diatonic motion up and down in fifths. Example 7.
Diatonic motion downward in fifths. Example 8.
Wider intervals are oftentimes tougher to coordinate but when executed fairly rapidly can have a startling effect.
Motion up and down in diatonic sixths. Example 9.
Intervalic motion by leap of a seventh. Example 10.
Octaves, up and down. Example 11.
Here are a few motifs for development based on outlining the triads of the One, Four, Five chord progression. Example 12.
Recognize the melodic cell of the last idea? Permutation of the above idea. Example 13.
Using the idea of the last bar of example 13 to generate a new sequence. Example 14.
Creating a diatonic melodic sequence throughout the various scale degrees, (1,5,4,3,2). Example 15.
Cool? Got these under your fingers? Perhaps try to run the interval studies through the other 11 natural minor scales? For additional interval studies, click here.
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"Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it." Henry David Thoreau
