Minor Scale

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The sixth mode of the major scale is the natural or pure minor scale, also known as the aeolian mode. It generates a minor seventh chord:

[EXAMPLE]

The minor scale thus may be used over minor seventh chords:

[EXAMPLE]

However, the minor sixth in this scale is somewhat dissonant against the minor chord. For this reason, the dorian mode is usually preferred, except when a b6 or b13 is explicitly specified in the chord. Here is an example of a melody played with both the dorian and aeolian modes over a minor seventh chord:

[EXAMPLE]

Copyright 2000 Outside Shore Music
Authored by Marc Sabatella

Minor Scale