Music: Music Theory: Major and Minor Scales Worksheet

Question 1

Write the whole-step and half-step pattern for a major scale. Use W for whole step and H for half step.

Accepted Answer

The major scale pattern is W-W-H-W-W-W-H.

Question 2

Build a D major scale. Write all eight notes, including the repeated tonic at the top.

Accepted Answer

The D major scale is D, E, F-sharp, G, A, B, C-sharp, D. It uses F-sharp and C-sharp to match the major scale pattern.

Question 3

Build an A natural minor scale. Write all eight notes, including the repeated tonic at the top.

Accepted Answer

The A natural minor scale is A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A. It uses only natural notes.

Question 4

Write the whole-step and half-step pattern for a natural minor scale. Use W for whole step and H for half step.

Accepted Answer

The natural minor scale pattern is W-H-W-W-H-W-W.

Question 5

Identify the relative minor of E-flat major. Explain how you found it.

Accepted Answer

The relative minor of E-flat major is C minor. It is found by moving down a minor third from E-flat, or by using the sixth scale degree of E-flat major.

Question 6

Identify the relative major of F-sharp minor. Explain how you found it.

Accepted Answer

The relative major of F-sharp minor is A major. It is found by moving up a minor third from F-sharp, or by using the third scale degree of the minor scale.

Question 7

Build a G major scale and name its key signature.

Accepted Answer

The G major scale is G, A, B, C, D, E, F-sharp, G. Its key signature has one sharp, F-sharp.

Question 8

Build an E natural minor scale and name its key signature.

Accepted Answer

The E natural minor scale is E, F-sharp, G, A, B, C, D, E. Its key signature has one sharp, F-sharp.

Question 9

Compare C major and A natural minor. They use the same notes. Explain why they sound different.

Accepted Answer

C major and A natural minor sound different because they have different tonic notes. C major centers on C, while A natural minor centers on A, which changes the pattern of intervals around the tonic.

Question 10

A scale contains the notes F, G, A, B-flat, C, D, E, F. Identify the scale and explain your answer.

Accepted Answer

The scale is F major. It starts and ends on F and follows the major scale pattern with one flat, B-flat.

Question 11

A scale contains the notes D, E, F, G, A, B-flat, C, D. Identify the scale and explain your answer.

Accepted Answer

The scale is D natural minor. It starts and ends on D and follows the natural minor pattern W-H-W-W-H-W-W.

Question 12

Explain the difference between parallel major and minor scales using C major and C natural minor as examples.

Accepted Answer

Parallel major and minor scales share the same tonic but use different notes and interval patterns. C major is C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, while C natural minor is C, D, E-flat, F, G, A-flat, B-flat, C.

Music: Music Theory: Major and Minor Scales

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