Why Do We Have 3 Minor Scales? - Music Theory

There are 3 minor scales, or more precisely, 3 variants of the minor scale because of how harmony and melody interact in Western musical tradition. Why do they exist and what are they? In this music theory lesson we explain the Natural Minor scale and clear up confusions that people often have between Modes and Natural Minor scales. We then look at how to distinguish the Natural Minor scale from the Harmonic and Melodic scales showing what they have in common and how they vary. By the end of this music theory lesson you will know why the 3 minor scales exist and their uses.

🕘 Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction to minor scales
0:38 - The natural minor scale
2:04 - Difference between the natural minor scale and a mode
4:50 - The harmonic minor scale
6:21 - The melodic minor scale
8:21 - Why do we have 3 minor scales?

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[lawrencetaylor]

Again a great lesson.
And yet, I heard that jazz players would play the melodic minor scale both ascending and descending.
And of course, who was ahead of his time?
Bach.
Some music schools call this the Bach Minor scale.

[Elephantine]

Most music theory isn't as confusing as it sometimes sounds once you take a good look at it, but these three harmonic scales continue to throw me. Thanks for explaining!

[amrishvijayvast]

Simple explanation is a sign of great teacher.

[PatrickGraven]

It's all about grammar when it comes to music. As a guitarist, a scale is a group of ascending and descending notes that are used for the creation of melody. They are also the building blocks for harmony, and chords can be built from them. When learning about music and scales, it's important to get to know the notes and where all the notes are before delving deeper.

[PatriciaSL]

You are such a great teacher. Thank you so much.

[brendanmcgrane]

Brilliant as usual Gareth, many thanks for your uploads.

[AndrewMcCaffertyXerxes]

Always learn so much from these videos, even after playing music all these years! I'm going to look out for the natural minor now, which I wasn't really aware of before: any famous examples?

[isaacshaw]

Just to confuse the natural minor even more, I understand what you mean by 'we aren't talking about modes, ' that's true it isn't the Phrygian mode. However it is the Aeolian mode with that key signature whether you think of modes being an alteration of the major scale or just the sixth mode relating to G doesn't really matter. I'm sure you get where I am coming from hopefully.

[MsFlamingFlamer]

Thank you for this. My piano teacher just assigned me the melodic scale and I was going bonkers. Such a clear explanation!

[michaeltaylor]

Thanks Gareth!! Yet another wonderful video!

[optiTHOMAS]

Brilliant! Thank you for this! Excellent lesson! Very clear, simple, slow, and easy to follow! Great teacher with a relaxing voice as well. I will surely be watching more to brush up on stuff! Currently back into music after playing trombone for like 15 years through school and having a hiatus. Now I'm doing a great deal of theory and this is so helpful! 😁👍🏻

[tortoiseperson]

So helpful! I've always been confused by the variety of minor scales especially the "up is not the same as down" thing!

[YourFavouriteColor]

I'm VERY grateful for this explanation. There is a big pitfall in jazz theory where they show you how to "harmonize the melodic minor" and how "x chord is based on the third mode of the melodic minor scale." While this harmonization may be useful for expanded harmony, it is a misleading and inadequate explanation of the original function of the scale. You put it perfectly. Baroque composers wanted the juicy natural 7th leading tone to tonic in minor, but then had to "make up" for that awkward misspelled 3rd(b6-nat7) by using a natural 6th for lines or "melodies." THANK YOU.

[hectoraguilar]

Hi Garret, nice class! It is right that are three minor scales (natural minor, harmonic minor, melodic minor) and minor modes (Dorian minor, Phrygian mode, Aeolian mode, Locrian mode) and alt minor modes. So, I consider the minor scales more than 3...in the same way the triads (Mayor, minor, diminish, augmented, Mayor b5, Sus2, sus4)... however, it is complete right to define them as the way you said it... greetings from Tijuana!

[materdeimusicd.buckley]

Also called the aoelian mode. In Folk music but also medieval and Renaissance music. Thanks again. Hope my comment helpful to some. Some folk/Renaissance music isn't strictly modal. Seventh note sharpened and not sharpened, depending on melody or intervals between parts in Renaissance music. I suppose a lot of it is down to the instinct of the composer, and his/ her influences. Many pieces of music will use more than one minor scale. Playing and listening while following score really helpful in getting to understand minor tonality. Not an easy thing to explain. Very brave of you, thanks.

[imankhodaei]

Thank you for a brilliantly simple explanation

[tedb.]

There's also the Jazz Minor Scale for performance. Melodic Scale both ascending and descending. It's all very complicated when it comes to Jazz scales and all the modes.

[youtubewatcher]

Unfortunately the question in the title was not really answered. Yes, harmonic minor seems to be used for harmony quite often and melodic minor for melodies. But why? Why not use the natural minor for everything instead? This is why I clicked this video.

[veeraraghavuluarigela]

Sir, Nice explanation, Thanks Sir.I request you, please upload a video for Western Music Ornamentation.