6.20 The C sharp minor scale

In this chapter, you’ll learn how you can make the C sharp minor scale by applying the sequence: whole - half - whole - whole - half - whole - whole, starting from C sharp. You’ll also learn how to make the harmonic and melodic C sharp minor scale. In the videos, I show how to play the C sharp minor scale on the piano. In the ear training exercise, you’ll learn how to recognize an wrongly played note in the E and A flat major scales and the F sharp and C sharp minor scales.

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1. The structure of the C sharp minor scale

Every minor scale consists of the following sequence: whole - half - whole - whole - half - whole - whole. When you apply this sequence starting from C sharp, you get the tones C# D# E F# G# A B C#.

 

Video

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Examples

Which tones will you get if you construct a minor scale, starting from C sharp?

 

The C sharp minor scale is comprised of the notes: C# D# E F# G# A B C#.
The C sharp minor scale has four sharps: F sharp, C sharp, G sharp and D sharp.
This scale is also called the natural C sharp minor scale.

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2. The C sharp minor scale played on the piano

The C sharp minor scale ascending and descending, played by the right hand over one and over two octaves.

 

The fingering of the C sharp minor scale played with the right hand.

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The C sharp minor scale ascending and descending, played by the left hand over one and over two octaves.

 

The fingering of the C sharp minor scale played with the left hand.

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3. The structure of the harmonic C sharp minor scale

In the harmonic C sharp minor scale, the seventh note is raised. When you apply this to the C sharp minor scale, you get the tones C# D# E F# G# A B# C#.

 

Video

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Examples

In the harmonic C sharp minor scale, B, the seventh note, is raised to become a B#.

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4. The harmonic C sharp minor scale played on the piano

The harmonic C sharp minor scale ascending and descending, played by the right hand over one and over two octaves.

 

The fingering of the harmonic C sharp minor scale played with the right hand.

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The harmonic C sharp minor scale ascending and descending, played by the left hand over one and over two octaves.

 

The fingering of the harmonic C sharp minor scale played with the left hand.

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5. The structure of the melodic C sharp minor scale

In the melodic C sharp minor scale, the sixth and the seventh notes are both raised. When you apply this to the C sharp minor scale, you get the tones C# D# E F# G# A# B# C#.

 

Video

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Examples

In the melodic C sharp minor scale, A and B, the sixth and the seventh notes, are both raised and become A# and B#.
Descending, the sixth and seventh tones of the melodic C sharp minor scale are often not raised, but played as the natural C sharp minor scale.

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6. The melodic C sharp minor scale played on the piano

The melodic C sharp minor scale ascending, played by the right hand over one and over two octaves.

 

The fingering of the melodic C sharp minor scale played with the right hand.

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The melodic C sharp minor scale ascending, played by the left hand over one and over two octaves.

 

The fingering of the melodic C sharp minor scale played with the left hand.

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7. Ear training

 

Practise

Ear Training exercise 6e: being able to hear a wrongly played note in the E and A flat major scales and the F sharp and C sharp minor scales.

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Example question

In the next scale a wrong note is played:

Which note is played incorrectly?

 

Practical steps

The notated scale is the harmonic F sharp minor scale. Sing the scale being played to train your inner hearing abilties. Listen to how this scale differs from the harmonic minor scale.

Answer: the wrong note being played is the second note, the G#.

The C sharp minor scale

• The C sharp minor scale is comprised of the notes C# D# E F# G# A B C#.
• The C sharp minor scale has four sharps: F sharp, C sharp, G sharp and D sharp.
• In the harmonic C sharp minor scale, B, the seventh note, is raised to become a B#.
• In the melodic C sharp minor scale, A and B, the sixth and the seventh notes, are both raised and become A# and B#.

Ear Training exercise 6e: being able to hear a wrongly played note in the E and A flat major scales and the F sharp and C sharp minor scales.

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