www.insidethemusic.co.uk
scale spellings (level 1 - natural minors)

 The learning outcome: By the end of this session (level 1) you will be able to use the scale spelling system to construct a natural minor scale.
This page will help you learn about scale spellings.
  		You should already know: note names, tones and semitones and how to construct a major scale.
Read through these notes, listen to the audio examples and tips, and respond to the questions. These will be marked when you click submit - a pop-up box will tell you if you've made a mistake. When you have completed this exercise you should go on to the next one (just follow the links).
So what is a scale spelling? If ever there was a misnomer, it's scale spellings, as this 'spelling' system uses numbers.  
The numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 represent the notes of any major scale, no matter what the starting note. It's like a code from which many other musical features can be explained.
  
Please type your name here:
 

A natural minor scale differs from a major scale. 3 notes are a semitone lower - the 3rd, 6th and 7th notes. So the spelling for a natural minor scale is 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 8. The small 'b' (a flat sign) indicates that the note is a semitone lower.

Question 1. The notes of C major scale are in this box. Make the 3rd 6th and 7th a semitone lower, to turn this scale into C natural minor.


Use 'b' to indicate a flat, such as Db, or '#' for a sharp, such as G#

Question 2. The notes of A major scale are in this box. Make the 3rd 6th and 7th a semitone lower, to turn this scale into
A natural minor.

Question 3. Here's D major scale - D E F# G A B C# D. Type the notes of D natural minor. Leave a space between each note name.

Question 4. The notes of B natural minor are in this box. Turn them into B major.

Question 5. Type the notes of G natural minor here.

When you have attempted all the questions, click submit. If you have made any errors a pop-up message will tell you which questions to try again.