Minor scale

The sad one

The natural minor scale is the major scale started from its sixth degree. Same notes, a different center of gravity.

The formula

steps    W H W W H W W
notes    1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7
sound    dark, introspective, "longing"

Why it matters

Most songs are secretly in minor. The flat third and flat sixth are the color notes that give it the ache.