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Diatonic

Natural Minor Scale

The darker counterpart to the major scale. Melancholic, introspective, and widely used across classical, rock, and pop.

darkmelancholicintrospective

Hear the Natural Minor Scale

How to Identify It

Darker and sadder than major. It shares the same notes as its relative major but starting from a different root — giving a completely different emotional character.

Famous Examples

  • Stairway to Heaven (Am) — Led Zeppelin
  • Smooth Criminal — Michael Jackson
  • Losing My Religion — REM
Test your earThe recognition trainer plays random scales — identify them with instant feedback.
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Natural Minor in All 12 Keys

CC#D♭DD#E♭EFF#G♭GG#A♭AA#B♭B

Often Confused With

DorianModesThe 2nd mode of the major scale. Minor-sounding but with a r…Harmonic MinorMinor VariantsA natural minor scale with a raised 7th degree. Creates a di…MajorDiatonicThe brightest, most stable scale in Western music. The found…

About the Natural Minor Scale

The natural minor scale is a diatonic scale built from the interval pattern 2, 1, 2, 2, 1, 2, 2 (in whole and half steps). The darker counterpart to the major scale. Melancholic, introspective, and widely used across classical, rock, and pop.

To recognise the natural minor scale reliably by ear, focus on its characteristic mood — dark, melancholic, introspective. Use the player above to hear it in all 12 keys, and the recognition trainer to test yourself against a mixed set of scales.