Did you know that at one time composers were forbidden to write music in a minor key? There was severe punishment for those who did. Minor keys were thought of as being able to cause great destruction or evil. Yet, some of the greatest works of the musical arts are written in minor keys. Russian composers were most noted for their excellent works in minor keys.

Let's listen to cousins C major and A minor as each slider bar plays up the scale and then down the scale.

Now play each of these scales on your keyboard. Try constructing more minor scales using the formula. Spend at least 10 minutes doing this exercise.