Natural Minor (Aeolian) vs Harmonic Minor on Piano
The C natural minor (aeolian) and the C harmonic minor share 6 notes — C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab. From there, the C natural minor (aeolian) adds Bb, while the C harmonic minor adds B.
Piano, C3 to C5. Notes in this scale, low to high: C3 (root of C Natural Minor (Aeolian) and root of C Harmonic Minor), D3 (2 of C Natural Minor (Aeolian) and 2 of C Harmonic Minor), Eb3 (flat 3 of C Natural Minor (Aeolian) and flat 3 of C Harmonic Minor), F3 (4 of C Natural Minor (Aeolian) and 4 of C Harmonic Minor), G3 (5 of C Natural Minor (Aeolian) and 5 of C Harmonic Minor), Ab3 (flat 6 of C Natural Minor (Aeolian) and flat 6 of C Harmonic Minor), Bb3 (flat 7), B3 (7), C4 (root of C Natural Minor (Aeolian) and root of C Harmonic Minor), D4 (2 of C Natural Minor (Aeolian) and 2 of C Harmonic Minor), Eb4 (flat 3 of C Natural Minor (Aeolian) and flat 3 of C Harmonic Minor), F4 (4 of C Natural Minor (Aeolian) and 4 of C Harmonic Minor), G4 (5 of C Natural Minor (Aeolian) and 5 of C Harmonic Minor), Ab4 (flat 6 of C Natural Minor (Aeolian) and flat 6 of C Harmonic Minor), Bb4 (flat 7), B4 (7), C5 (root of C Natural Minor (Aeolian) and root of C Harmonic Minor).
Swipe the chart sideways to see all of it.
Both scales above are drawn on one piano keyboard in the key of C. Notes belonging to both are drawn as a split two-color dot, so the notes they share and the notes unique to each are visible in one picture.
How the formulas differ
Scale degrees are the key-independent way to compare two scales — these stay the same in every key, and they are what actually distinguishes one scale from another.
| Scale | Degrees |
|---|---|
| Natural Minor (Aeolian) | R · 2 · b3 · 4 · 5 · b6 · b7 |
| Harmonic Minor | R · 2 · b3 · 4 · 5 · b6 · 7 |
Notes in common
| Note | In Natural Minor (Aeolian) | In Harmonic Minor |
|---|---|---|
| C | R | R |
| D | 2 | 2 |
| Eb | b3 | b3 |
| F | 4 | 4 |
| G | 5 | 5 |
| Ab | b6 | b6 |
Notes that differ
- Only in the natural minor (aeolian): Bb (b7)
- Only in the harmonic minor: B (7)