So , the natural minor scale consists of : 1 , the tonic , followed by 2 , a note a major second above the tonic , ♭ 3 , a note a minor third above the tonic , and so forth , up to 8 , a note an octave above the tonic .
A minor scale in music theory is any scale that has at least three scale degrees : the tonic , the minor third above the tonic , and the perfect fifth above the tonic .