The natural minor scale
Build the natural minor scale from any note and compare it with the major scale.
Major sounds bright and settled. Minor sounds darker. The simplest minor scale is the natural minor, and the quickest way to understand it is to compare it with the major scale.
The formula
The natural minor scale follows the pattern W–H–W–W–H–W–W, which is 2-1-2-2-1-2-2 frets. From A it uses only natural notes: A B C D E F G A.
Compared with major
Compared with the major scale on the same tonic, three degrees are a half step lower: ♭3, ♭6 and ♭7. The formula in degrees is 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7.
| Scale | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C major | C | D | E | F | G | A | B |
| C minor | C | D | E♭ | F | G | A♭ | B♭ |
The ♭3 is the defining note: a scale or chord with a minor 3rd above the tonic is “minor”, and a piece built mainly on a minor scale is in a minor key. As with major, each letter name appears once; the sharps or flats are those of the key signature (lesson 6.2). In Module 13 this scale returns as the Aeolian mode.
The one-octave shape
With the root on the E or A string and the 1st finger on the root, the scale fits in a 4-fret span. With the root at fret f:
- root string: 1, 2, ♭3 at frets f, f+2, f+3, with fingers 1, 3, 4;
- next string up: 4, 5, ♭6 at frets f, f+2, f+3, with fingers 1, 3, 4;
- next string up: ♭7, 8 at frets f, f+2, with fingers 1, 3.
Play the shape above, then move it to E minor (root at fret 7 on the A string) and G minor (root at fret 3 on the E string). Say the ♭3, ♭6 and ♭7 of each as you play them.