Western · Dark · melancholic
Minor Scale
The natural minor scale — the Aeolian mode — is the darker, more melancholic counterpart to the major scale, following the pattern W–H–W–W–H–W–W. It underpins countless rock, pop, film and classical themes whenever music needs weight or sadness.
Open the interactive Minor scale →On the piano keyboard
Minor scale shown on C
RootScale tone
Minor scale — degrees on C
Shown on root C — the same interval pattern applies in every key.
| Degree | Note | Interval | Arabic solfège |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | 1 | دو |
| 2 | D | 2 | ري |
| 3 | Eb | b3 | مي بيمول |
| 4 | F | 4 | فا |
| 5 | G | 5 | صول |
| 6 | Ab | b6 | لا بيمول |
| 7 | Bb | b7 | سي بيمول |
| 8 | C | 8 | دو (octave) |
Interval formula
1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
Minor scale on every key — keyboard diagrams
C
C#
D
Eb
E
F
F#
G
Ab
A
Bb
B
Minor scale in every key
| Key | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | C | D | Eb | F | G | Ab | Bb |
| C# | C# | D# | E | F# | G# | A | B |
| D | D | E | F | G | A | Bb | C |
| Eb | Eb | F | Gb | Ab | Bb | Cb | Db |
| E | E | F# | G | A | B | C | D |
| F | F | G | Ab | Bb | C | Db | Eb |
| F# | F# | G# | A | B | C# | D | E |
| G | G | A | Bb | C | D | Eb | F |
| Ab | Ab | Bb | Cb | Db | Eb | Fb | Gb |
| A | A | B | C | D | E | F | G |
| Bb | Bb | C | Db | Eb | F | Gb | Ab |
| B | B | C# | D | E | F# | G | A |
Diatonic chords (key of C)
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| i | Cm | C · Eb · G |
| ii° | D° | D · F · Ab |
| III | Eb | Eb · G · Bb |
| iv | Fm | F · Ab · C |
| v | Gm | G · Bb · D |
| VI | Ab | Ab · C · Eb |
| VII | Bb | Bb · D · F |