How do the major and natural minor scales place whole steps and half steps differently?

In Western music, the major scale and the natural minor scale are both heptatonic (seven-note) scales, but they are distinguished by the specific sequence of whole steps (W) and half steps (H) used to span an octave.12

The interval patterns for these scales are as follows:

• Major Scale: Follows the sequence W–W–H–W–W–W–H.12
• Natural Minor Scale: Follows the sequence W–H–W–W–H–W–W.12

Essentially, the natural minor scale can be understood as a major scale with its third, sixth, and seventh tones lowered by a half step. While the major scale places its half steps between the third and fourth notes and the seventh and eighth notes, the natural minor scale places its half steps between the second and third notes and the fifth and sixth notes.13