Scales & Key Signatures: Spelling Natural Minor Scales - Accidentals in a Natural Minor Scale

The natural minor scale uses only the accidentals in its key signature.

• You can think of this scale as a "conceptual" scale. That is, it is crucial for understanding other musical concepts, but we do not encounter it verbatim in pieces of common-practice music. (Think Bach through Brahms.)
  • This is due to the absence of the leading tone to announce "The tonic is coming! The tonic is coming!"
• It does appear verbatim in popular music (pop, rock, etc.) and jazz.