Editing Minor scale (section)

===Relationship to parallel major===
A natural minor scale can also be constructed by altering a major scale with [[Accidental (music)|accidentals]]. In this way, a natural minor scale is represented by the following notation:

: 1, 2, {{music|b}}3, 4, 5, {{music|b}}6, {{music|b}}7, 8

This notation is based on the major scale, and represents each degree (each note in the scale) by a number, starting with the tonic (the first, lowest note of the scale). By making use of flat symbols ({{music|b}}) this notation thus represents notes by how they deviate from the notes in the major scale. Because of this, we say that a number without a flat represents a major (or perfect) interval, while a number with a flat represents a minor interval. In this example, the numbers mean:
* 1 = [[Unison#Interval of the unison|(perfect) unison]]
* 2 = [[major second]]
* {{music|b}}3 = [[minor third]]
* 4 = [[perfect fourth]]
* 5 = [[perfect fifth]]
* {{music|b}}6 = [[minor sixth]]
* {{music|b}}7 = [[minor seventh]]
* 8 = [[Perfect octave|(perfect) octave]]

Thus, for instance, the A natural minor scale can be built by lowering the third, sixth, and seventh degrees of the A major scale by one semitone:

:<score sound="1"> {
\override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f
\relative c' { 
  \clef treble \time 7/4
  a4^\markup { A major scale } b \override NoteHead.color = #red cis \override NoteHead.color = #black d e \override NoteHead.color = #red fis gis \override NoteHead.color = #black a2 \bar "||"
  \time 9/4
  a,4^\markup { A natural minor scale } b \override NoteHead.color = #red c! \override NoteHead.color = #black d e \override NoteHead.color = #red f! g! \override NoteHead.color = #black a2 }
}
</score>

Because they share the same tonic note of A, the key of A minor is called the [[Parallel key|''parallel minor'']] of [[A major]].