The Minor Scale
Every (natural) Minor scale is comprised from the basic pattern:
whole-half-whole-whole-half-whole-whole
You could also think of that as:
2-1-2-2-1-2-2
Either way, it describes the number of steps to take (upwards) from the current note. This is easiest to understand in the A Minor Scale.
What follows are all minor scales on piano (including linked PDFs).
The most commonly used key signatures on the piano are:
However, it is easier to learn the scales by fingering pattern groups. There are 5 minor scales that are played in the same way, making them easier to learn together. You'll notice these are the same 5 scales that share major scale fingering:
- A Minor Scale on Piano
- E Minor Scale on Piano
- C Minor Scale on Piano
- G Minor Scale on Piano
- D Minor Scale on Piano
- Note, the F Minor Scale uses the same left hand fingering but slightly different right hand fingering.
This scale follows the same right hand fingering:
Next, these two use the same fingering:
And these two repeat the same right hand fingering as the last two, with different left hand fingering:
These two also share fingering:
These two also share fingering:
Related Topics...
Music Theory: Music theory piano players use: scales, key signatures, the chords inside a key and how to read them, all playable as interactive sheet music in your browser.
Major scales on piano: Learn the major scale pattern on piano, then compare the key signatures and fingering groups for every major scale.
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G Flat Major Scale (Piano): The G-flat major scale is G♭ A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F G♭, with six flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭). Notes, piano fingering for both hands, key signature and chords. Pla…
Piano Scales: Every piano scale in one chart: the notes, the key signature and the number of sharps or flats for all twelve major and twelve minor keys.
More in This Section
Key of A Flat Major: The key of A Flat Major: four flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭), the notes A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G, and all seven chords, A♭, B♭m, Cm, D♭, E♭, Fm, Gdim.
The Minor Triad Chords: All minor triad chords use the pattern i-ii°-III-iv-v-VI-VII. Learn what that means, and how to play each chord interactively with Chordzy.