Minor Scales: Natural & Harmonic
The two simplest forms of the minor scale, and how the harmonic form's raised 7th gives it a stronger pull home.
Explainer
Every major scale has a relative minor sharing the very same key signature — it starts on the 6th degree of the major scale (A minor is the relative minor of C major).
The natural minor uses exactly the notes of that key signature, no more, no less: A B C D E F G A, following the pattern W-H-W-W-H-W-W.
The harmonic minor raises the natural minor's 7th degree by a semitone, creating a strong "leading note" pull up to the tonic: A B C D E F G♯ A.
A third form, the melodic minor, waits until Grade 3 — for now, natural and harmonic are the two forms to know well.
Worked examples
A natural minor
A B C D E F G A — the plain relative-minor notes, no sharps or flats.
A harmonic minor
A B C D E F G♯ A — the 7th degree (G) is raised to G♯.
Why raise the 7th?
A raised 7th sits just a semitone below the tonic, giving it a much stronger pull home — useful for strong-sounding endings.