Figure 3.8
Other Examples of Minor Scales
Audio 5
Other Minor Scales
The previous examples demonstrate particular relationships between Major and
Minor scales:
1. Major and Minor scales that have the same pitch content but different
starting pitches are said to be
relative
to one another, for example C
major and a minor.
2. Major and Minor scales that have differing pitch content but the same
starting pitch are said to be
parallel
to one another, for example C
major and c minor.
In order to discover the
Relative Major/Minor
9
relationship, follow this procedure:
1. To find the
Relative Minor
scale of any Major scale:
a. Go to the sixth degree (
Submediant
) of the Major scale.
b. Re-order the scale content from that pitch.
c. Think “
Major to Minor: up to 6
.”
2. To find the
Relative Major
scale from any Minor scale:
a. Go to the third degree (
Mediant
) of the Minor scale.
b. Re-order the scale content from that pitch.
c. Think “
Minor to Major: up to 3
.”
We do not recommend the “three up or three down” method that is sometimes
employed. This leads to confusion on the part of the student. Inevitably, the student
will go down the wrong specific pitch distance, or will confuse which relationship is
which direction.
9. The relationship between
Major and Minor scales
wherein they share the same
pitch content but have a
different order.
Chapter 3 The Foundations Scale-Steps and Scales
3.2 Heptatonic Scales: The Major Scale, The Three Forms of the Minor Scale
95
