Keys and Intervals Minor Keys

Look at the image below. This demonstrates the difference between a melodic minor and a harmonic minor note the difference between ascending and descending.

a) Look at these four scales and label each one as either D ascending melodic minor, D descending melodic minor, D harmonic minor or D major. Remeber that you need to look at notes 6 and 7 to differentiate between the various forms of minor scales, and at note 3 to disctinguish between a major scale and a minor scale

b) What is the relative minor of D major? Remember that to find the relative minor you count down three semitone steps from the tonic of the major scale. Now write out one octave of the harmonic minor scale of that minor key on a treble stave

c) On a bass stave, write out the complete melodic minor scale, ascending and descending, of E minor.

These are the harmonic minor scales for the nine most widely-used minor keys first with accidentals only, and then with key signatures plus any necessary accidentals. To find the melodic minor scale, remember that: 1. The ascending melodic minor scale differs from the harmonic in having a raised note 6 2. The descending melodic minor differs from the harmonic minor in having a lowered note 7.

d)

Write all three forms (ascending melodic, descending melodic and harmonic) of the following scales on a bass stave: D minor, E minor, B minor, G minor, C minor, F# minor, F minor, C minor Write each scale i) with accidentals, and ii) with key signature. Label each note with its correct scale number (1-8).

e) Write, using accidentals,, one octave of each of the following ascending melodic minor scales on a treble stave: D minor, B minor, G minor Label each note with its correct scale number of each note f) Write a table showing the degree names and numbers, plus letter names for each note in the following scales: G harmonic minor, F melodic minor (ascending), E melodic minor (descending) Begin your first table as follows: Tonic = 1 = G

g) In what key are the two phrases below? (Notice that the second one is in the bass clef). Label each note of the melody below with its degree number.

Quick Notes

1. This is all focused on relative minors. Be aware of tonic minors as well. To find these: The third note in the scale will be flattened by a semitone Notes 1, 2, 4 and 5 are the same in the major and tonic minor

2. Be aware when naming keys, they are just minor not melodic minor or harmonic minor