How do major and minor scales differ in sound and structure?

• A. They always occupy the same pitch in an octave
• B. Major is bright; minor is darker; they follow different interval patterns
• C. Minor has more notes per octave
• D. Major and minor scales are identical in pattern

Answer: (B)

Major and minor scales differ in how they sound and how their notes are arranged in an octave. The major scale has a bright, happy character, while the minor scale tends to sound darker or more somber. This difference comes from the pattern of steps between successive notes. The major scale follows a sequence of whole and half steps: whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half. The minor scale uses a different pattern, commonly the natural minor: whole, half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole. Because the third degree is a major third away from the tonic in major, but only a minor third away in minor, the overall color changes accordingly. So this distinction in both sound and step pattern explains why major and minor are not the same and why they feel different to listen to.