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Lesson 1

Musical

Example

Lesson 1

Secret

Score

Lesson 1

Score/

Music

Comparing the Minor Scales

Let's compare the minor scales by looking at the last two bars of our piece. Listen again to how the melody and harmony sound using the natural minor scale:

Now listen to those same two bars using the harmonic minor scale:

This change adds a more dramatic, almost gothic sound to the music.

Now let's hear those same two bars using the melodic minor scale:

That almost sounded like we were in a major key - until the last bar. That's because the raised 6th and the raised 7th in the melodic minor scale actually created major chords out of those first two chords.

As you compose, don't choose your melody and harmony based on theory. Always compose with your ears first. Theory gives you a basic understanding of how music works and enables you to communicate with other musicians in a common language.

But as you grasp the theory basics, remember that in composition there is no right or wrong. You need only concern yourself with what sounds good to you and what doesn't.