Quick Minor Scale lesson

The major and minor scale use the same Master Pattern

The ‘Minor’ scale lives inside the Major Scale Master Pattern.

The minor scale is called the ‘relative’ minor scale. Also known as the ‘natural’ minor scale or the Aeolian scale – its ‘modal’ name.

So we have the C major scale with the notes:

C(1) – D(2) – E(3) F(4) – G(5) – A(6) – B(7)

Chords: C Dm Em F G Am Bdim

The relative minor is based off the 6th note of the major scale.

The 6th note of the ‘C’ major scale is ‘A’. So the relative minor scale of C major, is A minor.

Same notes and chords for both scales

All you do for the ‘relative’ minor scale is write the sames notes out starting on ‘A’ instead of ‘C’.

A(1) B(2) C(3) D(4) E(5) F(6) G(7)

Chords: Ami Bdim C Dm Em F G

Same chords – different order.

I-IV-V Songs

Lots of songs just use 3 chords. The 1 chord, the IV chord and the V chord.

In C major they would be: C F G

A blues song in C would use those 3 chords.

But what if we want to play that blues in A minor?

Well, just use the i, iv,v chords of A minor: Am Dm Em

The thing is, you can use the same scale to solo over both. You can use the same pentatonic scales too. That’s because they are both (Major and minor scales) part of the same Master Pattern.

It really is quite simple once you get the hang of it.

I’ll be making some videos later on giving some practical examples.

The MOVABLE Master Pattern