Notes: C – D – E – F – G – A – B · Formula: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7
B
C Natural Minor (Aeolian)
Root2nd3rd4th5th♭67th
Notes: C – D – Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb · Formula: 1 – 2 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – ♭6 – ♭7
What's the difference?
Shared notesC1D2F4G5
Only in MajorE3A6B7
Only in Natural MinorEb♭3Ab♭6Bb♭7
Why it matters: The core major-vs-minor contrast at one root: natural minor lowers the 3rd, 6th and 7th. The lowered 3rd alone is what the ear reads as 'sad' — the other two deepen it — so this is the clearest illustration of how a few flattened degrees change a scale's whole mood.