The Minor Scales
Natural, Harmonic, and Melodic: The three shades of Minor.
Natural Minor
The Natural Minor scale shares exact notes with its Relative Major. Its pattern is W-H-W-W-H-W-W. It has a lowered 3rd, 6th, and 7th compared to the Major scale.
Harmonic Minor
To create a stronger pull to the Tonic, we raise the 7th degree by a half step. This creates the 'Harmonic Minor' scale. It has a distinctive 'exotic' gap (augmented second) between the 6th and 7th notes.
Melodic Minor
To smooth out the gap in the Harmonic Minor, the Melodic Minor scale raises BOTH the 6th and 7th degrees when ascending, but reverts to Natural Minor when descending.
The Composer's Takeaway
Minor scales provide emotional depth and contrast to major tonality. Use Natural Minor for a consistent, melancholic sound; Harmonic Minor for strong chords and dramatic resolutions; and Melodic Minor for smooth, expressive linear melodies. Understanding these three shades of minor unlocks a vast emotional palette for your compositions.