Minor Scales and Keys
Apart from major keys, the other type of key is the minor key. There are various types of minor scales, the one which minor key signatures come from is called the natural minor (also called the pure minor). Shown here is the formula for the C natural minor scale and a fingering for it in Pattern 1.
Transposing a scale or arpeggio to a different key is easy on the bass, you simply find the starting note of the key you want and then follow the fingering. However, you will be able to create lines which fit chord types and progressions better if you think about the degrees and note names involved every time you transpose. Remember that the formula for a scale or chord remains the same regardless of the key, only the actual pitches and the names of the notes change. To demonstrate this, the A natural minor is shown here. Notice that the formula is exactly the same as that of the C natural minor scale.
A Natural Minor Scale
Relative Keys
If you compare the A minor natural minor scale with the C major scale you will notice that they contain the same notes (except starting on a different note). Because of this, these two scales are referred to as "relatives"; A minor is the relative minor of C major and vice versa.
For every major scale (and every major chord) there is a relative minor scale which is based upon the 6th note of the major scale. This is outlined in the following table.
Both the major and the relative minor share the same key signature, as illustrated here:
Other Minor Scales
As well as the natural minor scale, there are several other types of minor scales. Two of these you have already learned – the minor pentatonic scale and the Blues scale. Two other important minor scales are the harmonic minor and the melodic minor. The harmonic minor is almost the same as the natural minor but it has a natural 7th (often called raised 7th) instead of a flattened 7th. The melodic minor has natural 6th and 7th degrees. The formulas for these two scales are shown here as C harmonic and melodic minor.
The harmonic and melodic minor scale variations (and any other variations such as the minor pentatonic or the Blues scale) are also relatives of the same major scale, e.g., A harmonic and A melodic minor are relatives of C major.The sharpened 7th and 6th notes that occur in the harmonic and melodic minor scales are never included as part of the key signature. Because each major and relative minor key share the same key signature, you will need to know how to distinguish between the two keys. For example, if given a piece with the key signature of F# thus:
It could indicate either the key of G major or its relative, E minor. The most accurate way of determining the key is to look through the melody for the sharpened 7th note of the E harmonic minor scale (D#). The presence of this note will indicate the minor key. If the 7th note is present, but not sharpened, then the key is more likely to be the relative major (i.e., D natural notes would suggest the key of G major).
Another method is to look at the first and last chords of the progression. These chords usually (but not always) indicate the key of the piece. If the piece starts and/or finishes with Em chords then the key is more likely to be E minor.
