What are the three varieties of minor scales?

What are the three varieties of minor scales?

• A. Natural, harmonic, and melodic
• B. Natural, major, and pentatonic
• C. Dorian, Phrygian, Locrian
• D. Relative minor, parallel minor, and major

Answer: (A)

Minor scales come in three common forms that change how they sound. The natural minor uses a lowered third, sixth, and seventh scale degrees compared with the major scale, giving that distinct somber color. The harmonic minor keeps the same notes as the natural minor except the seventh degree is raised by a half step, which creates a strong leading tone that resolves nicely to the tonic and enriches the dominant harmony. The melodic minor has a different feel when ascending and descending: when going up, both the sixth and seventh degrees are raised for smoother melodic motion, while when coming down you typically revert to the natural minor. Together these forms—natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor—are the three varieties used to shape minor tonality. The other options refer to major, pentatonic, modes, or relational terms that aren’t the three minor-variant scales.

Minor scales come in three common forms that change how they sound. The natural minor uses a lowered third, sixth, and seventh scale degrees compared with the major scale, giving that distinct somber color. The harmonic minor keeps the same notes as the natural minor except the seventh degree is raised by a half step, which creates a strong leading tone that resolves nicely to the tonic and enriches the dominant harmony. The melodic minor has a different feel when ascending and descending: when going up, both the sixth and seventh degrees are raised for smoother melodic motion, while when coming down you typically revert to the natural minor. Together these forms—natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor—are the three varieties used to shape minor tonality. The other options refer to major, pentatonic, modes, or relational terms that aren’t the three minor-variant scales.