Minor Scales

There are three kinds of minor scales in music: Natural Minor, Harmonic Minor and Melodic Minor

Natural Minor

The Natural Minor scale has the following pattern: W-H-W-W-H-W-W 

H (Half) W (Whole)

This is a C Natural Minor scale: C-D-Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C

A natural minor scale has no alternations. It only has the key signature that is designated to it. C Natural Minor only has three accidentals in its key signature: Bb, Eb and Ab. The 6 and 7th notes are not altered.

Harmonic Minor

The Harmonic Minor is an altered scale.The seventh note is raised by a half-step as you go up and down the scale. Here is the pattern for the following scale: W-H-W-W-H-A2-H

Here is a Harmonic Minor scale starting on C: C-D-Eb-F-G-Ab-B-C

Melodic Minor

The Melodic Minor scale is different because when the scale ascends up, we use one pattern. As the scale descends, we use another pattern.

Here are the ascending and descending patterns for the Melodic Minor scale starting on F:

Here is an example of a C Melodic Minor scale: 

Melodic C Minor Scale = C - D - Eb - F - G - A - B - C (Ascending)
Natural C Minor Scale = C - D - Eb - F - G - Ab - Bb - C (Descending)

The scales goes back to a Natural C Minor scale when the notes go back down the scale.