Once you are familiar with major scale formula, you can explore Minor scale formula. The minor scales are the second most widely used after major scale in music. In case if you have not mastered major scale we strongly advise to master Major scale before mastering minor scale.
Similar to major scale, the minor scale is also made up of series of half and whole notes.
The minor scale formula is W H W W H W W
W stands for whole note ( 2 half notes added together) and H stands for half note.
So let us construct A minor scale using this formula. Sometimes A minor scale is also referred to as A natural minor or Am Scale.
Root Note or first note : A
Second Note : B (One whole note higher)(H
Third Note : C (Half note higher)
Fourth Note : D (Whole note higher)
Fifth Note : E (Whole note higher)
Sixth Note : F (Half note higher)
Seventh note : G (Whole note higher)
Back to Root note : A (whole note higher)
So using the minor scale formula W H W W H W W, the notes for A minor scale are A B C D E F G A. You may notice that the notes in A minor are exactly the same notes in C Major also. However the difference is the root note. For C major scale the root note is C, while for A minor scale the root note is A.
