Natural minor scales explained on a virtual piano

A natural minor scale is a sequence of notes x1,x2,x3,x4,x5,x6,x7,x8 such that

• x2 is 2 semitones higher than x1
• x3 is 1 semitone higher than x2
• x4 is 2 semitones higher than x3
• x5 is 2 semitones higher than x4
• x6 is 1 semitone higher than x5
• x7 is 2 semitones higher than x6
• x8 is 2 semitones higher than x7

Alternatively, treating notes as integers, (x1,x2,x3,x4,x5,x6,x7,x8) is a natural minor scale iff (x1,x2,x3,x4,x5,x6,x7,x8)=(x1,x1+2,x1+3,x1+5,x1+7,x1+8,x1+10,x1+12).

This virtual piano plays only natural minor scales.

Note that the A natural minor scale is the only natural minor scale composed entirely of white keys. Other natural minor scales contain at least one black key.

Note that each natural minor scale contains two minor triads and one major triad:
The first minor triad is composed of the 1st, 3rd, and 5th steps while the second minor triad is composed of the 4th, 6th, and 8th steps.
The major triad is composed of the 3rd, 5th, and 7th steps.
In the A natural minor scale, the two minor triads are: A,C,E and D,F,A, while the major triad is C,E,G.

Check out our definition of major scales also explained on a virtual piano.