The Differences Between Major and Minor Scales

When we listen to a piece of music, there is normally an emotional sensation that accompanies it.

Some songs make us want to get up and dance, and others have us staring longingly out of a rain-drenched window.

There are a number of factors that make music feel a certain way such as tempo, dynamics, and arrangement, but today we’re focusing on the differences between musical keys. More specifically we are going to talk about the two most commonly used scales in western music - major and minor.

These scales are often described as: major being happy, and minor being sad.

Perhaps overly simplistic definitions, but they can be a helpful reference point for beginners, and introduce the idea of attaching feelings to sounds - which is crucial.

Constructing major and minor scales

A great way to learn how to build scales is to memorize their structure in terms of tones and semitones (aka whole-steps and half-steps).

A semitone (S) is when we move up or down to the next available note eg:

[C to C#] or [C to B]

A tone (T) is double the size of a semitone eg:

[C to D] or [C to Bb]

Now this is understood, we can easily learn new scales using simple formulas of T’s and S’s. What’s more, each formula will work from any root note!

If you’re not sure yet, don’t worry - we have some diagrams for you below.

Why should you learn scales?

Think about it, every melody and chord lives within a key, and each key is dictated by a scale.

This key, has a “tonal center” (tonic note) that functions like a gravitational center for all the other notes. This means that the tonic note is the only note that has a sensation of total rest, whereas the other notes in the key assume different sensations depending on their scale degree.

The sense of stability changes between notes - some have tension, others are more stable, some sound happy and others sound sad. This is all down to the unique relationship each degree has to the tonic note, and these sensations are crucial to how we perceive music.

Internalizing how scale degrees sound within the context of a tonal center is the gateway to developing an extremely sophisticated musical ear.

What are Major Scales?

The major scale (also known as the Ionian scale) is a common starting point for learning scales, it often acts as a reference point to which other scales can be compared - you may hear people say something like “this scale has a flat 3rd” (♭3) meaning that the 3rd degree of the scale is lowered by one semitone (compared to the 3rd degree of a major scale).

Types of Major Scales in Music

Most people have heard someone sing: “Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do” - (a system of notation known as solfege). If you heard the notes in your head as you read that, then congratulations - you already have the major scale burned into your memory!

Major scale* [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7] These numbers are known as ‘scale degrees’ (the 8th is the same note as the 1st raised by one octave).

* Each scale we discuss today is accompanied with a diagram directly below it. This is the C major scale, standard notation on top, and guitar tablature underneath.

It’s important to have the major scale set firmly in your mind, not only as a pattern on your instrument, but also to be able to hear it, or better yet - sing it! This should be one of your first goals as a musician, learning to sing the major scale is absolutely vital for developing your musicality!

Major scale formula

So let’s check out the major scale formula using the ‘tone/semitone’ system we learned earlier.

[T - T - S - T - T - T - S]

This structure will always create a major scale, regardless of what note you start on.

Patterns for major scale on the guitar and piano

Here are some diagrams showing the C major scale - the notes (C-B), degrees (1-7), and tone/semitone distances (T/S).

What are Minor Scales?

If the major scale was day, then the minor scale would be night. You may notice a darker feel to this scale, and it’s reflected by the mood/tone of songs that utilize a minor key - we’ll take a look at some examples of this later.

So, how to make a minor scale?

The basic framework is close to what we’ve seen in the major scale, except we flatten the 3rd, 6th, and 7th.

Types of Minor Scales in Music

Today we are focusing primarily on:

Natural minor scale [1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7]

Often just referred to as simply ‘minor’, or modally as ‘aeolian’.

By far the most commonly used minor scale.

* This is the C minor scale standard notation on top, and guitar tablature underneath.

There are two other minor scales that are worth mentioning briefly:

Harmonic minor scale [1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, 7]

Identical to a natural minor scale apart from the raised 7th degree. This is often described as sounding quite exotic.

* This is the C harmonic minor scale standard notation on top, and guitar tablature underneath.

Melodic minor scale [1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

In classical music, this scale is played differently depending on whether going up or down.

Ascending it contains a major 6th and major 7th, descending is played the same as a natural minor.

* This is the C melodic minor scale standard notation on top, and guitar tablature underneath.

Minor scale formula

Now we know the scale degrees, but it’s also good to know the minor scale steps using the ‘tone/semitone’ system - here is the formula for the natural minor scale:

[T - S - T - T - S - T - T]

Play through this sequence on your instrument but try to focus on the unique sensation each note has in relation to the overall mood created by the scale, ask yourself:

• How does the minor scale sound compared to a major scale?
• Does the mood feel different?
• Which degrees give the key its unique character?

Patterns for minor scale on the guitar and piano

Here we have diagrams for the C minor scale for guitar and piano.

Examples of music in major and minor keys

It’s worth taking some time to explore your favorite songs, understanding what scale is being used, and trying to internalize the broad difference in mood between major and minor.

Here are some famous songs in major and minor to get you started:

• Happy Birthday Song - Major
• Here Comes The Sun - The Beatles - Major
• Stairway To Heaven - Led Zeppelin - Minor
• Ain’t No Sunshine - Bill Withers - Minor

Do you see how the key being major or minor often has an impact on the emotions evoked by the song?

There certainly seems to be a particular sensation created by these scales.

How to tell the difference between major and minor scales?

Quite often identifying a musical scale or key is approached from a very rational perspective - like a math problem. This would probably mean: sitting down with your instrument, putting the track on, using trial and error to find the tonic note, and then playing notes from the major or minor scale to try and hear what matches… a pretty clunky method!

So what is the best way to distinguish between major vs minor keys?

We’ve already established that keys have sensations or emotions attached (even non-musicians experience them), so why not try to utilize this fundamental aspect of music, and develop the ability to recognize scales (and scale degrees) by ear alone?

By spending time absorbing the feeling of each scale degree against the tonal center you can start to recognize notes, chords (and musical keys) instinctively, and reduce unnecessary thought processes that inhibit your ability to play freely.

Want to learn how to recognize scales and scale degrees by ear?

This skill doesn’t develop overnight, it takes practice and the correct guidance - but that hard work will pay off!

There are many ear training methods out there and yet we see so many musicians wasting years trying to get results from interval-based ear training.

The issue with that approach is that those exercises don’t re-create a musical key (they are atonal exercises - and sound utterly unmusical).

If you're not practicing within the context of a key, then you’ll have a very difficult time identifying notes and chords in real music - which is the entire goal of ear training, right?!

We’ve been working on this topic and building a unique ear training program for years. We’ve seen many students go from not being able to pitch-match, to dictating complex chord progressions and melodies intuitively - without the need for awkward mental gymnastics (like thinking in terms of individual intervals for recognizing groups of notes). Even seasoned musicians and music teachers with experience in ear training have found our method to open them up to a whole new way of relating to music.

We welcome you to find out for yourself - there are loads of free resources on the website and our youtube channel. But if you’re really serious about developing your musical ear, then we recommend checking out our courses.

• Our method is backed up by scientific studies and has been tested by thousands of musicians with fantastic results.
• Whether you want to get better at improvising, transcribing or composing, our innovative ear training program is going to make your life much easier.
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If you’d like to get a deeper look into what we do with no strings attached, then sign up for our free workshop. Containing hours of exclusive ear training information and free exercises that you can practice straight away. This content is the result of years of research and testing on hundreds of real students.

If you prefer, we also provide 1-on-1 lessons with fully qualified tutors that are experts in our method. Whatever your requirements, we’ve got you covered!

Conclusion

Music theory can sometimes pull people away from using their ears and connecting with how music feels. Quite often as a musician progresses, they move into a more cognitive approach, no longer truly hearing what’s being played, instead focusing entirely on theory.

Running fast scales over a chord progression may be musically correct, but is it particularly musical?

It’s important to always listen to what’s happening - great musicians aren’t always thinking about what they’re playing, they’re feeling it!

Learning scales the right way is what sets the groundwork for developing your musicality, so make it a top priority.