There are three kinds of minor scales: Natural Minor, Harmonic Minor, and Melodic Minor scales.

How to build a Natural Minor Scale?

The natural minor scale has the following scale formula:
W – H – W – W – H – W – W

(A half step (H) is the distance between two adjacent keys on a piano keyboard, and it is the smallest musical interval in music. A whole step is the distance equal to two half steps.)

H = half step
W = whole step

Example: C Natural Minor Scale
Let’s begin with the root note C on the piano keyboard.

A whole step above C is D.
A half step above D is E♭.
A whole step above E♭ is F.
A whole step above F is G.
A half step above G is A♭.
A whole step above A♭ is B♭.
A whole step above B♭ is C.

C – D – E♭ – F – G – A♭ – B♭ – C are the notes of the C natural minor scale.

List of all Minor Scales

How to build a major scale?