What is the C minor scale called in a C major scale
The C minor scale is called the Aeolian mode in a C major scale.
To find the C minor scale within the C major scale, you can start by listing the notes of the C major scale: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C.
To create the C minor scale, we need to lower the third, sixth, and seventh notes of the C major scale.
The third note of the C major scale is E, so we need to lower it by a half step to get Eb.
The sixth note of the C major scale is A, which needs to be lowered by a half step to get Ab.
Lastly, the seventh note of the C major scale is B, which also needs to be lowered by a half step to get Bb.
By applying these alterations, we get the notes of the C minor scale: C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C.
In a C major scale, the C minor scale is called the "C Aeolian mode" or the "C natural minor scale."
To understand why, we need to dive into some music theory. The C major scale consists of the notes: C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. In comparison, the C minor scale contains the notes: C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, and Bb.
Now, one way to find the corresponding minor scale in a major scale is to look for the sixth note of the major scale. In this case, the sixth note of the C major scale is A. Therefore, we can say that A is the relative minor of C major. The relative minor scale shares the same key signature as its major counterpart, in this case, C major has no sharps or flats.
To build the C natural minor scale, starting from A, we use the following pattern: whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, and whole step. Applying this pattern to A, we get: A, B, C, D, E, F, G.
Therefore, the C minor scale derived from the C major scale is called the C Aeolian mode or the C natural minor scale.