A minor scale is a type of musical scale that creates a darker or more somber sound compared to its counterpart, the major scale. It consists of seven notes and follows a specific pattern of whole and half steps. The natural minor scale, for example, has the sequence: whole, half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole. There are three common forms of the minor scale: natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor. Each form has a unique pattern of intervals, which gives it a distinct character. Minor scales are widely used in various music genres, including classical, jazz, and popular music.