Key layouts minor 4-row
to the major scales 4-row
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Key layouts minor

For all available minor scales on a 4 row Instrument

I use a 4-row instrument in the scale of A-D-G-C as an example, but these patterns are usable on all instruments with different scales. Only the scale names have to be replaced if use on different scales.

Only the natural minor (Aeolian) is possible to play completely. The more common minor scales ("Melodic minor" and "Harmonic minor") are not completely possible to play, they can be used as far as they are part of the natural minor.

The following rows are explained:

	minor scale on the 2nd row, H-minor
	minor scale on the 3rd row , E-minor
	minor scale on the 4th row , A-minor (work around)

Today not all Steirsche have minor chords built in any more. The following key layouts are not suitable, if you don’t have the traditional layout. Since we still have folk music with minor scales or minor parts or tunes with passages in minor, I recommend to use or buy instruments with minor chords built in. It is also easy to replace the reeds on some bass keys to get these minor chords if you don’t have them already.

And now the key layouts:

minor scale on the 2nd row, H-minor

This is the 6th step progression relative to the middle row ( D-major -> H-minor) Or the 2nd step relative to the 1st row (A-major ->H-minor). In all minor scales the 1st step (tonic) has to be played in pull position, and the 5th step progression relative to the 1st (dominant) in push direction.

Pull, minor 2nd row. Middle and high position is complete. The important 5th note of the scale is missing in pull position and can be reached on push direction. Gleichton is not needed and serves only for orientation.

Key layout 4-row, 2nd row minor, pull
4.			^b5		6		1		3		^b5		6		1		3		^b5		7
3.		^b2		3		5		7		^b2		3		5		7		^b2		4		5
2.	6		7		2		4		6		7		2		4		6		1		2		4
3		4		^#6		1		3		5		^#6		1		3		5		^#6		1		3
very low						Low position								Middle position								High pos.

An alternating bass is possible. In combination with the above the respective bass keys:

Key layout bass 4-row, 2nd row minor, pull

^b5

(1minor)

^b5

bass

chord

Push, minor with 2nd row. All three positions are complete. In the lowest position the first note is missing.

Key layout 4-row, 2nd row minor, push
4.			^b2		4		6		^b2		4		6		^b2		4		6		^b2
3.		6		1		3		6		1		3		6		1		3		6		1
2.	3		5		7		3		5		7		3		5		7		3		5		7
7		2		4		7		2		4		7		2		4		7		2		4		7
		very low						Low position						Middle position						High position

In combination with the above the respective bass keys:

Key layout 4-row, 2nd row minor, push

(5)

^b2

bass

chord

minor scale on the 3rd row , E-minor

This is the 6th step progression relative to the middle row ( G-major -> E-minor) Or the 2nd step relative to the 1st row (A-major ->E-minor). In all minor scales the 1st step (tonic) has to be played in pull position, and the 5th step progression relative to the 1st (dominant) in push direction.

Pull, minor 3rd row. Middle and high position is complete. The 2nd note of the scale is missing in the very low position, and can be reached in push direction. Gleichton is not needed and serves only for orientation.

Key layout 4-row, 3rd row minor, pull
4.			^b2		3		5		7		^b2		3		5		7		^b2		4
3.		6		7		2		4		6		7		2		4		6		1		2
2.	3		4		^#6		1		3		4		^#6		1		3		5		^#6		1
7		1		^#3		5		7		2		^#3		5		7		2		^#3		5		7
		Low position								Middle position								High position

Alternating bass is easily possible. In combination with the above the respective bass keys:

Key layout bass 4-row, 3rd row minor, pull

^b7

(1minor)

^b7

bass

chord

altern.

Push, minor with 3rd row. All three positions are complete.

Key layout 4-row, 3rd row minor, push
4.			6		1		3		6		1		3		6		1		3		6
3.		3		5		7		3		5		7		3		5		7		3		5
2.	7		2		4		7		2		4		7		2		4		7		2		4
4		^#6		1		4		^#6		1		4		^#6		1		4		^#6		1		4
very low				Low position						Middle position						High position						very high

All scale notes are present for bass runs. In combination with the above the respective bass keys:

Key layout bass 4-row, 3rd row minor, push
	1		x		5		(5)		2		x		1
6		x		3		x		7		x		4		x
					bass		chord		altern.

minor scale on the 4th row , A-minor (work around)

This is the 2nd step progression relative to the middle row push major. (G- major-> 2nd step progression A- minor)

Pull, minor 3rd row. Low and middle position is complete. In high position the 7th note is missing and is reachable in push direction. Gleichton is unimportant, it serves only as orientation key.

Key layout 4-row, 4th row minor, pull
4.			6		7		2		4		6		7		2		4		6		1
3.		3		4		^#6		1		3		4		^#6		1		3		5		^#6
2.	7		1		^#3		5		7		1		^#3		5		7		2		^#3		5
4		5		^#7		2		4		6		^#7		2		4		6		^#7		2		4
very low				Low position								Middle position								High position

Alternating bass is easily possible. The 1st step chord is not really correct it is made up with a major chord instead. Depends a lot on the tuning of the instrument and also on the reeds installed for this major chord (f major instead of a minor). Please check your instrument maybe it sounds quite all right or it may be unusable. Alternating bass is possible but does not sound good in most cases.

In combination with the above the respective bass keys:

Key layout bass 4-row, 4th row minor, pull
	6		(1minor)		5		x		2		x		6
7		x		4		x		1		x		5		x
			chord		altern.			bass

Push, with work around major bass chord on 3rd row. All three positions are complete.

Key layout bass 4-row, 4th row minor, push
4.			3		5		7		3		5		7		3		5		7		3
3.		7		2		4		7		2		4		7		2		4		7		2
2.	4		6		1		4		6		1		4		6		1		4		6		1
1		^#3		5		1		^#3		5		1		^#3		5		1		^#3		5		1
very low						Low position						Middle position						High position

All scale notes are present for bass runs. In combination with the above the respective bass keys:

Key layout bass 4-row, 4th row minor, push
	5		(5)		2		x		6		x		5
3		x		7		x		4		x		1		x
					bass		chord		altern.

[ Nach oben ] [ Key layouts major 3-row ] [ Key layouts minor 3-row ] [ Key layouts major 4-row ] [ Key layouts minor 4-row ]

[ Questions about the Steirische ] [ Playing technique ] [ Playing with standard notation ] [ "Griffschrift" explained ] [ Easy multiple voices ] [ Bass play and alternating bass ] [ swinging music ]
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