Let’s dive deeper into Intervals and figure out what the scales are. Scales are a selection of notes, out of the chromatic scale (12 notes). They are constructed using steps.

The Natural Minor scale, also known as the Aeolian mode, has a darker, more somber tone compared to its major counterpart. This scale is often used to convey emotions such as sadness, melancholy, and introspection. It's a favorite in genres like classical, metal, and blues, where a more emotional and dramatic effect is desired.

Musicians and composers use the Natural Minor scale to add depth and complexity to their music. It's particularly effective in creating haunting melodies and rich, textured harmonies. This scale is also a key component in many traditional and folk music styles, lending an authentic and timeless quality to the compositions.

In addition to its melodic uses, the Natural Minor scale is crucial for constructing minor chords and chord progressions. These chords provide a contrasting sound to major chords, allowing for more dynamic and emotionally varied musical pieces. Whether you're crafting a poignant ballad or an intense soundtrack, the Natural Minor scale offers a wealth of expressive possibilities.

The relative steps of the minor scale are: w-h-w-w-h-w-w (w=whole step, h=half step).
Let’s explore how that exactly works:

What does diatonic mean?

The term "diatonic" refers to a scale that uses a mix of whole steps and half steps. When we say "diatonic," we mean notes that belong to the scale. For example, if you're playing in the key of A♭ major and using A♭ major notes, those notes are diatonic.

In the piano example above, you saw that only the notes from the scale are used. This means they only include notes "of the scale." Knowing about diatonic notes is important for understanding music theory and making melodies that sound good.

Using diatonic notes helps musicians keep their music in key, making it sound smooth and pleasant. Understanding diatonic notes will improve your musical skills and creativity.

Back to the mandolin! You might wonder how this all translates back to your instrument and that might be a bit confusing at first, but please stay tuned. As you just seen, the chromatic intervals for minor scale are {1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9 and 11}. To most people, this is not very useful information. The diatonic steps 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7 are more important to know. Try to learn see the difference between those and learn that by heart. From there it is way more interesting and practical to look at diatonic scale intervals.

Switch between chromatic/diatonic/notes below to see/learn the relations between them. For convenience, the root note (A♭) is highlighted.

As you might notice, the scales have 7 notes, except for the blues and pentatonic scales.