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  • Word comparison: major scale vs. minor scale

major scale vs. minor scale

major scale

noun

Music.

  1. a scale consisting of a series of whole steps except for half steps between the third and fourth and seventh and eighth degrees.

minor scale

noun

  1. Also called harmonic minor scale. a scale having half steps between the second and third, fifth and sixth, and seventh and eighth degrees, with whole steps for the other intervals.

  2. Also called melodic minor scale. a scale having the third degree lowered a half step when ascending, and the seventh, sixth, and third degrees lowered a half step when descending.