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Minor scale
Natural minor scale – a darker sound, typical of ballads.
The natural minor scale over an octave: root, major second, minor third, perfect fourth, perfect fifth, minor sixth, minor seventh, octave, then down. Compared with the major scale, three notes are a half step lower, which gives the darker, more melancholy color heard in ballads. The syllable 'noh' has a rounded vowel that suits that shade and keeps the sound from spreading. Fifteen notes, five repetitions, up a semitone each.
How to do it
- Listen to the piano play the minor scale up and down; hear how it differs from major.
- Sing on 'noh', letting the 'n' start each note gently and keeping the vowel round.
- Watch the third, sixth and seventh degrees on the roll; those are the minor notes.
- Five repetitions, each starting a semitone higher.
Coach's tip: Minor third and minor sixth – don't “brighten” them toward major.
What to watch out for
The ear wants to brighten the minor third and minor sixth toward their major versions, so those notes often turn yellow on the high side. Sit them down deliberately. The minor seventh is a whole step below the octave; don't shrink it. On the descent, keep the rounded vowel and avoid letting the low notes go heavy. If your top feels strained, lower the range rather than forcing the octave.
Who it's for
Intermediate singers and anyone who sings ballads or slow songs. Use it in the main block after Major scale (octave) so you can hear the contrast. Follow it with Minor triad to isolate the minor third. It isn't part of a preset program; pick it from the Scales category when working on darker material.
Opens the app in your browser. Free, no account. Put on headphones first.