Music Fundamentals A Balanced Approach

Finding the Tonic Note in a Minor Key with Flats

To find the tonic note in a minor scale using a key signature with flats,locate the major tonic note and count
down three half steps. On the staff, notice that the major and minor tonic notes may be drawn from a line to a
line or a space to a space.

However, the tonic note may be drawn in any octave as shown below.

Following is a chart showing the key signatures for A minor and the seven minor scales with flats. Notice:

• The order of the flats is the same as for flatted major scales: BbEbAbDbGbCbFb.

219

MINOR SCALE

& w

B flat major G minor

w

Tonic relatives drawn on LINES

b

b

& w

A flat major F minor

w

Tonic relatives drawn on SPACES

b

b

b

b

& w

A flat major F minor

w

w

(two tonics)

b

b

b

b

&

?

&

?

&

?

&

?

&

?

&

?

&

?

&

?

b

b

b

b

b

b

b

b

b

b

bbbb

b

b

b

b

bbbbb

b b

b

b

b

b

bbb

b bbbb

b b

b

bbbbb

b

bbbb b

b

b

b

b

b

b

b

b

A minor D minor G minor C minor

F minor B minor E minor A minor

Aminor Dminor Gminor Cminor