Parallel
minor
The relationship between C major and C minor
is parallel. That means that both scales share the same root.
C minor is the parallel minor of C major. Comparing
a C major and C minor scale is a great way to see what is
the same, and what is different between the 2 scales.
All theory boils down to how notes relate to
a major scale. The major scale is the constant that is used
to compare everything else. Each note in a major scale gets
a number. When you look at the comparison of C major and C
minor below, you will see that C minor has b3 (flat 3), b6,
and b7 in comparison. What that means is that those notes
are the equivalent of 1 fret lower on the bass than the notes
in the major scale. So there are 4 notes that are the same,
and 3 notes that are different.
|
C
D E F G A B
C - C major
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1
C
D Eb F G Ab Bb C -
C minor
1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1
|
Natural
minor scale formula
These numbers are what is known as the "scale
formula". The formula for a natural minor scale is 1
2 b3 4 5 b6 b7.
|
Natural
minor formula
1
2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
|
Page 3, Major is minor and minor is major
Page 1, Minor scale basics
