Originally Posted by: Mglambo

I started the Identifying The Key Signature tutorial with Christopher Schlegel. In lesson #2 he goes though the notes in the A minor scale as A,B,C,D,E,F, and G sharp.

[p]I play the G# when the E major chord happens, the V chord of the progression.

The natural A minor scale has a G note as the 7th degree as the "default setting". But we modulate, we adjust the scale when we get to a chord that uses a note that is not in the scale. One of the most frequent place this happens in minor key is when the V chord is a major chord. We have to make the 7th degree sharp!

I explain this in greater detail as the lesson continues & later in the tutorial when the E chord is discussed.

The bottom line is that you will have to play the A minor scale both ways. With the G as natural minor & with the G# as harmonic minor. Notice that the first play along is just over the A minor chord. So, I started with the default setting, before we get into exception cases.

Hope that helps! Please ask more if necessary. Best of success with it!