There are three varients of a minor scale: natural, harmonic and melodic.
Eight, the same as in any major or minor scale.
A minor scale typically consists of seven steps or notes.
There are no sharps in F minor.
To change a major scale to a natural minor scale, lower the 3rd, 6th, and 7th scale degrees.
Yes, and many do.
7
many dance music songs are writen in minor. that means that they also use the minor scale.
3
A melodic minor scale is a minor scale where the sixth and seventh are raised by a half step as the scale ascends; however, the melodic minor scale is played exactly the same as a natural minor scale as it descends.
Harmonic Minor - The first minor scale you will learn, uses the accidentals in the key signature with a sharp 7th. Melodic Minor - First half of the scale is minor, the second half is major (ascending). Descending, only the accidentals in the scale are used. Natural Minor - Same notes as the relative major but ending on the first note of the minor scale. Hope this helps.
Simply a minor scale
The difference between a melodic minor scale and a harmonic minor scale is that in a melodic minor scale, the sixth and seventh scale degrees are raised on the way up, and on the way down they are the same as they would be in natural minor. In a harmonic minor scale, only the seventh scale degree is raised and stays the same on the way down.