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Design and construction of minor scales

The basic minor scale (natural minor) is represented by the white keys of the piano that span the octave from A to A. Note there are half steps between pitches 2 and 3 and between pitches 5 and 6. All other steps are whole steps. The natural minor scale is the same as the aeolian mode discussed in Lesson 3.

The major scale studied in the previous lesson and the natural minor scale both consist of seven scale degrees. Each scale has two half steps and five whole steps (they are diatonic scales).  It is the difference in the location of the two half steps in the scale that determines the mode.