A minor scale is a scale having a minor third (an interval of a tone and a half) between the first and third notes, instead of a major third (two tones) as found in major scales. There are three main different minor scales: the natural minor, the harmonic minor, and the melodic minor. These minor scales differ from each other in whether the sixth and seventh steps of the scale are raised (sharpened) or whether they are not.

There are other minor scales, such as the Dorian and Phrygian modes, and the Neapolitan minor and Hungarian minor.