Minor Scales, Key Signatures
and Relative Keys
Minor Scales
A Minor Scale:
Remember: all minor scales follow the same pattern of tones and
semi-tones.
Pattern: Tone – Semitone – Tone – Tone – Semitone – Tone – Tone
When Writing Minor Scales:
REMEMBER:
• There should be 8 notes.
• The first note and the last note should be the
same.
• Every letter name must appear at least once.
• Follow the interval pattern T-S-T-T-S-T-T.
• The notes B/C and E/F are one semi-tone apart.
• A sharp raises a note by one semi-tone.
• A flat lowers a note by one semi-tone.
Example Minor Scales
F Minor:
C# Minor:
Order of Sharps
F
C
G D A E
Father Charles Goes Down And Ends
B
Battle
Order of Flats
B E A D G C
F
Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles Father
Key Signatures
• Just like major scale key signatures, the
order of sharps and flats can be used to
determine minor scale key signatures.
• Use the order of sharps to determine
key signatures containing sharps.
• Use the order of flats to determine key
signatures containing flats.
Key Signatures with Sharps:
Order of F#
Sharps:
C#
G# D#
A#
/
E
B
Number 3
of
Sharps:
4
5
7
/
1
2
6
Remember: E is the minor scale that has one sharp.
Five scales (F/C/G/D/A) have a sharp in their name.
Key Signatures with Flats:
Order of
Flats:
Bb Eb
Number of 5
Flats:
6
Ab
/
D
G
C
F
7
/
1
2
3
4
Remember: D is the minor scale that has one flat.
Three scales (B/E/A) have a flat in their name.
Relative Keys
When a major scale and a minor scale share
the same key signature (the same number of
sharps or flats) they are called relative keys.
For example:
• A is the relative minor key of C major.
• C is the relative major key of A minor.