Lesson 46: Minor Keys, Part 1 — Natural and Harmonic Minor

• Play natural and harmonic minor scales fluently in A minor and D minor.
• Play natural and harmonic minor scales fluently in D minor and G minor on your alto staff (the transpositions of soprano's A and D minor).
• Recognise which kind of minor a piece is in from its cadences.

• Lesson 21 — key signatures.

• Natural minor.
• Harmonic minor (raised seventh).
• Minor-key reading.

Three minors, one tonic. The composer chose which.

Minor keys have three forms: natural, harmonic, melodic. The first two are the focus of this lesson; melodic minor waits for the next. The difference is in the sixth and seventh degrees of the scale. Natural minor leaves them at their key-signature pitches. Harmonic minor raises the seventh, creating the leading-tone resolution that powers Baroque cadences.

A natural minor — no accidentals

D natural minor on your alto staff — one flat (Bb)

The same notes as C major, starting on A. The seventh (G) is not raised; the cadence sounds modal rather than tonal.

The relative minor of F major, starting on D on your alto staff. The seventh (C) is not raised; the cadence sounds modal rather than tonal.

A harmonic minor — raised G

D harmonic minor on your alto staff — raised C

The seventh becomes G#. A leading tone now exists, and the cadence sounds modern, tonal, Baroque. The augmented second between F and G# gives the harmonic minor its exotic colour.

The seventh becomes C#. A leading tone now exists, and the cadence sounds modern, tonal, Baroque. The augmented second between Bb and C# gives the harmonic minor its exotic colour.

D harmonic minor

G harmonic minor on your alto staff

One flat in the signature (Bb); C is sharpened at cadences.

Two flats in the signature (Bb and Eb); F is sharpened at cadences.

Now play these

Telemann: Sonata in A minor, TWV 41:a4

A harmonic minor — G# at every cadence. Apply trills there.

Reads in D harmonic minor on your alto staff — C# at every cadence. Apply trills there.

Telemann: Sonata in D minor, TWV 41:d4

D harmonic minor. C# at the cadences.

Reads in G harmonic minor on your alto staff. F# at the cadences.

Handel: Sonata in A minor, HWV 362 (Movements 1 and 3)

A complete pair of movements in A minor — the harmonic-minor sound throughout.

A complete pair of movements (reads in D minor on your alto staff) — the harmonic-minor sound throughout.

When you can play both forms of minor fluently in two keys, and identify which form a piece is in by ear, move on to Lesson 47.