Key guide
A minor: scale, key signature and chords
A minor has no sharps or flats. Its scale is A, B, C, D, E, F, G — play the scale and every chord below.
- Key signature
- None (no sharps or flats)
- Scale notes
- A B C D E F G
- Relative major
- C major
- Parallel major
- A major
- Dominant key
- E minor
- Subdominant key
- D minor
- On the piano
- White keys only
The A minor scale
The A minor scale uses the notes A, B, C, D, E, F, G, the natural minor pattern of whole and half steps (W–H–W–W–H–W–W) starting on A. Each letter name appears once, which is why the scale is spelled with naturals only.
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | tonic |
| 2 | B | supertonic |
| 3 | C | mediant |
| 4 | D | subdominant |
| 5 | E | dominant |
| 6 | F | submediant |
| 7 | G | subtonic |
Harmonic and melodic minor in A minor
The natural minor scale above is the form the key signature gives you. Composers alter it to get a stronger pull to the tonic: the harmonic minor raises the seventh degree (A, B, C, D, E, F, G♯), and the melodic minor raises the sixth and seventh going up (A, B, C, D, E, F♯, G♯). A × means a double sharp.
Chords in A minor
Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives seven diatonic triads and seven seventh chords. The Roman numeral gives each chord’s position; the role column says what it usually does in a phrase.
| Chord | Triad | Seventh | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| i | A C E | A C E G | tonic |
| ii° | B D F | B D F A | predominant |
| III | C E G | C E G B | tonic substitute |
| iv | D F A | D F A C | predominant |
| v | E G B | E G B D | dominant |
| VI | F A C | F A C E | tonic substitute |
| VII | G B D | G B D F | dominant |
In a minor key the v chord from the natural scale is usually replaced in cadences by a major V built with the raised seventh: E G♯ B.
Chord progressions in A minor
Four progressions worked out in A minor, each one playable:
- i – VI – III – VII Am – F – C – GA rising-and-falling minor loop that stays inside the natural minor scale.
- i – iv – V – i Am – Dm – E – AmThe minor cadence: the V is major, borrowing the raised seventh from the harmonic minor scale.
- ii° – V – i B° – E – AmThe minor ii–V–i: a diminished predominant resolving to the tonic.
- i – VII – VI – V Am – G – F – EThe descending “Andalusian” line, ending on the major dominant.
Keys related to A minor
- Relative major: C major — same key signature, different home note.
- Dominant: E minor — one step clockwise on the circle of fifths; the key most pieces in A minor modulate to.
- Subdominant: D minor — one step counter-clockwise, adding one flat (or removing one sharp).
- Parallel major: A major — same tonic, opposite mode.
Questions
What are the notes in A minor?
The A minor scale is A, B, C, D, E, F, G. That is the natural minor form; the harmonic minor raises the seventh degree, and the melodic minor raises the sixth and seventh going up.
How many sharps or flats are in A minor?
A minor has no sharps or flats. Every note of the scale is a natural, so on the piano it uses only white keys.
What is the relative major of A minor?
The relative major of A minor is C major. The two keys share a key signature and the same seven notes, but A is the home note of the minor key.
What chords are in A minor?
The seven diatonic triads in A minor are Am, B°, C, Dm, Em, F, G. In practice the V chord is usually played as E, using the raised seventh from the harmonic minor scale.