Mollisävelasteikot

Mollisävelasteikot are musical scales that are characterized by their generally melancholic or somber sound. In Western music theory, the most common type of mollisävelasteikko is the natural minor scale. It is built using the same notes as its relative major scale but starts on the sixth degree of the major scale. The characteristic intervals of the natural minor scale are a minor second, a major third, a perfect fourth, a perfect fifth, a minor sixth, and a minor seventh above the tonic.

There are other forms of minor scales, including the harmonic minor and melodic minor scales. The harmonic minor scale raises the seventh degree by a semitone, creating a distinctive augmented second interval between the sixth and seventh scale degrees. This interval contributes to a more dramatic or exotic sound. The melodic minor scale, when ascending, raises both the sixth and seventh degrees by a semitone. This alteration smooths out the augmented second found in the harmonic minor, making it more suitable for melodic passages. When descending, the melodic minor typically reverts to the natural minor form. The precise construction and intervallic relationships of these scales define their unique sonic qualities and their use in composition.