A natural minor scale
The minor scale, plain and simple: seven notes and the dark, wistful color of most songs in a minor key. Also called the Aeolian mode.
- Notes:
- A, B, C, D, E, F, G.
- Formula:
- 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7.
- Style:
- Rock, pop, ballads.
- Difficulty:
- Intermediate.
On the neck
Every note of the scale on the neck (choose 12, 15 or 19 frets). Click to listen.
High E at the top, just like in tab.Neck seen from the front, headstock at the top: low E on the left, just like a chord diagram.
Play the scale notes over it. Open in the Studio
Its color
The natural minor scale is the minor scale, plain and simple: the Aeolian mode. Its minor sixth, here F, gives it its melancholy. Remove the second and the sixth and you’re left with the minor pentatonic. It has the same notes as the C major scale, but starts on A.
Which chords to play it over
Play it over a A minor chord, or over the Am, F, G, Am progression, one of the most played in rock and pop.
Where you hear it
Anywhere things sound minor: rock, pop, ballads. Often-cited examples: “All Along the Watchtower” and “Losing My Religion” (R.E.M.).
Chords that go with it
The chords built on the notes of the scale: improvise with this scale over any progression that uses them.
Progressions to use it on
Loop the first one and improvise over it:
All 7 positions
Seven positions, one for each note of the mode, with three notes per string: the same shapes as the major scale, but the root (in orange) falls elsewhere. The characteristic note is in purple. Position 1 starts on the root, on the 6th string.
Position 1: frets 5 to 10
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|--------------------------------7-8-10-| B|-------------------------6-8-10--------| G|-------------------5-7-9---------------| D|-------------5-7-9---------------------| A|-------5-7-8---------------------------| E|-5-7-8---------------------------------|
Position 2: frets 7 to 12
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------------------8-10-12-| B|-----------------------------8-10-12---------| G|----------------------7-9-10-----------------| D|---------------7-9-10------------------------| A|--------7-8-10-------------------------------| E|-7-8-10--------------------------------------|
Position 3: frets 8 to 13
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|------------------------------------------10-12-13-| B|---------------------------------10-12-13----------| G|-------------------------9-10-12-------------------| D|-----------------9-10-12---------------------------| A|---------8-10-12-----------------------------------| E|-8-10-12-------------------------------------------|
Position 4: frets 10 to 15
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|----------------------------------------------12-13-15-| B|-------------------------------------12-13-15----------| G|----------------------------10-12-14-------------------| D|-------------------10-12-14----------------------------| A|----------10-12-14-------------------------------------| E|-10-12-13----------------------------------------------|
Position 5: frets 0 to 5
It also works an octave higher, frets 12 to 17.
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------------1-3-5-| B|-------------------------1-3-5-------| G|-------------------0-2-4-------------| D|-------------0-2-3-------------------| A|-------0-2-3-------------------------| E|-0-1-3-------------------------------|
Position 6: frets 1 to 7
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------------3-5-7-| B|-------------------------3-5-6-------| G|-------------------2-4-5-------------| D|-------------2-3-5-------------------| A|-------2-3-5-------------------------| E|-1-3-5-------------------------------|
Position 7: frets 3 to 8
High E at the top, just like in tab; the numbers under the neck are fret numbers.
e|-------------------------------5-7-8-| B|-------------------------5-6-8-------| G|-------------------4-5-7-------------| D|-------------3-5-7-------------------| A|-------3-5-7-------------------------| E|-3-5-7-------------------------------|