MollTonleiter

Molltonleiter, the German term for minor scale, is a diatonic collection of seven pitches that serves as the tonal foundation for music in a minor mode. The scale is built on a tonic note and follows a specific pattern of whole‑ and half‑steps, distinguishing it from the major (Dur) scale. In its most common form, the natural minor (æolische Molltonleiter), the interval sequence is tone‑semitone‑tone‑tone‑semitone‑tone‑tone (T‑S‑T‑T‑S‑T‑T). This construction yields a lowered third, sixth, and seventh degree relative to the parallel major scale, producing the characteristic somber character associated with minor tonality.

Western music traditionally employs three variations of the minor scale. The harmonic minor raises the seventh degree by a semitone, resulting in an augmented second between the sixth and seventh notes (T‑S‑T‑T‑S‑T+½‑S). This alteration creates a strong leading tone that resolves to the tonic, a feature essential for functional harmony. The melodic minor raises both the sixth and seventh degrees when ascending (T‑S‑T‑T‑T‑T‑S) and typically reverts to the natural minor form when descending, a practice that balances melodic smoothness with harmonic conventions.

Historically, the minor scale evolved from medieval church modes and was codified during the Baroque period, where composers such as J.S. Bach and later Classical and Romantic figures expanded its expressive possibilities. In contemporary music, the minor tonality underpins a wide range of genres, from classical and jazz to pop and metal, often combined with modal interchange and chromaticism to enrich harmonic language. The Molltonleiter remains a central element in tonal theory, providing both structural stability and emotional depth.