Scale Comparison
Pick two scales and a root note to see exactly which intervals they share and where they diverge.
All 12 notes — from A
Scale A
A Major
R 2 3 4 5 6 7
Bright and happy. The foundation of Western music.
Open on fretboard →Scale B
A Natural Minor
R 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
Darker and more emotive. Used across rock, metal, and classical.
Open on fretboard →Degree-by-degree comparison
| # | Major | Natural Minor | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A (R) | A (R) | same |
| 2 | B (2) | B (2) | same |
| 3 | C# (3) | C (b3) | 3 → b3 (1 semitone) |
| 4 | D (4) | D (4) | same |
| 5 | E (5) | E (5) | same |
| 6 | F# (6) | F (b6) | 6 → b6 (1 semitone) |
| 7 | G# (7) | G (b7) | 7 → b7 (1 semitone) |
Major vs Natural Minor: What changes?
Major and Natural Minor are the two foundational scales of Western music. They are relative to each other — A minor and C major share the exact same seven notes, just with different tonal centres.
Mood difference
Major sounds bright, settled, and confident. Natural minor sounds darker, more emotive, and melancholic. The single biggest driver of this difference is the 3rd degree — a major 3rd (4 semitones) vs a minor 3rd (3 semitones).
Harmonic function
Three degrees differ: the 3rd, 6th, and 7th. Flattening these three intervals transforms the bright major quality into the serious, darker minor sound. The chords built on each degree change accordingly — the I chord shifts from major to minor, the III from minor to major, and so on.