| I believe that beginner piano players should start off | | | | The catch here is that we only raise the sixth and |
| learning the major and minor scales. Major scales are | | | | seventh notes when we are going up the scales. |
| not as difficult as minor scales. In this article we look at | | | | When we are heading down we just play the natural |
| minor scales and how to play them. | | | | one. A lot of melodies use this fancy up and down |
| There exists three types of minor scales. They are: | | | | difference. |
| Natural minor, Harmonic minor and Melodic Minor. Minor | | | | To play this type of scale we follow the following |
| scales are similar to that of major scales in that they | | | | pattern: WHWWWWH |
| are constructed with half and whole tones. If we are | | | | An example of this is when we play the C version of |
| only playing one octave then a minor scale will consist | | | | this. It will go like so: C, D, D#/Eb, F, G, A, B and C |
| of seven tones combined together. | | | | - Harmonic Minor |
| For those that don't know what a half and a whole | | | | The harmonic minor is another variant of the minor. |
| tone is, I will explain here. A beginner has both black | | | | Similar to Melodic in that a note is raised a half tone. |
| and white keys that are repeated in a certain pattern | | | | The seventh note in the scale is raised by a half tone. |
| along the keyboard. If we move from one key to the | | | | There isn't a catch in this scale and going up and down |
| next key, this is known as a half tone. Two half tones | | | | is the same. |
| make a whole tone. So moving two keys along the | | | | To play this type of scale we need to follow the |
| keyboard will be a whole tone. | | | | pattern: WHWWHWH |
| In this article, I will be denoting a whole tone as a W | | | | An example of this is when we play the C version of |
| and a half tone as a H. | | | | this. The notes that we need to play are: C, D, D#/Eb, |
| - Natural Minor | | | | F, G, G#/Ab, B and C |
| The natural minor is probably the easiest of the three | | | | As it can be clearly seen, the learning how to play the |
| minor types. To play this minor scale we play the | | | | minor scales is very difficult. Learning how to play |
| following pattern of tones: WHWWHWW | | | | piano as a beginner requires you to master all types of |
| An example of this can be shown via the A Minor | | | | scales. You need to remember these patterns in minor |
| scale which is probably the easiest of all the scales in | | | | as well as learn the major scale pattern. The major |
| natural minor. To play the A minor we first start at the | | | | scale pattern is: WWHWWWH. If you play C major |
| A key. We then press every single white key up to | | | | then you just hit all the white keys from the first C up |
| the next A key. | | | | to the next C. |
| If we look closely at what we just played we will find | | | | In conclusion, everyone can be able to learn how to |
| that we have just followed the tone pattern of | | | | play piano. The piano is a great instrument to play and |
| WHWWHWW. | | | | the minor scales are just one of many things that you |
| - Melodic Minor | | | | have to learn as a piano player. Practise is the key to |
| A melodic minor is a little bit harder than the natural | | | | successfully playing all the types of scales. Remember |
| minor. It is similar to the natural one but you sixth and | | | | that practise makes perfect. |
| seventh notes that you play are raised by a half tone. | | | | |