Lesson 17 / 30 7 min
Minor scales
Natural, harmonic and melodic minor — the darker sounds of rock and metal.
Minor scales give music a darker, more serious or melancholic mood. They are everywhere in rock and especially in metal. There are three versions you should know.
Natural minor
The natural minor scale (also called the Aeolian mode) has this formula:
W – H – W – W – H – W – W, or in degrees: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7
Compared to major, the 3rd, 6th and 7th are lowered — that's where the sad sound comes from.
A minor uses the same notes as C major (no sharps or flats) — it's C major's relative minor, starting from A.
Harmonic minor
Raise the 7th of the natural minor by a half step: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7.
This creates a big gap (three half steps) between the ♭6 and 7, giving an exotic, classical sound. It's a favorite of neoclassical metal players. The raised 7th also turns the v chord into a major V (E instead of Em in A minor), which pulls strongly back to the tonic.
Melodic minor
Raise both the 6th and the 7th: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7. It sounds like a major scale with a minor third — smooth and jazzy.
In classical music, melodic minor is played this way only going up, and as natural minor coming down. In jazz and rock, it's used the same in both directions.
Chords in a minor key
Building triads on A natural minor gives: Am – B° – C – Dm – Em – F – G (i – ii° – III – iv – v – VI – VII). These are the same chords as C major, starting from Am.
That second progression — i – VII – VI – V (Am G F E) — borrows the major E from harmonic minor. It's the sound of flamenco and countless rock songs.
A darker cousin: Phrygian dominant
The 5th mode of harmonic minor, Phrygian dominant (1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7), is hugely popular in metal for its Middle Eastern, menacing vibe. Try it in E on the fretboard explorer.