Chapter 11 | The Natural Minor Scale

Seven notes, with a minor third at the centre of its character.

Natural minor uses seven different notes. Compare it with a major scale on the same root: lower the third, sixth and seventh degrees by one semitone.

A–C is the minor third. A–E is the perfect fifth. Together, A, C and E give us the minor triad inside the scale.

Build It Using Steps

On the low E string, begin at A, fret 5. Follow the pattern to frets 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15 and 17.

The notes are A – B – C – D – E – F – G – A.

Same Root, Two Different Collections

A major and A natural minor share the tonic A. They are parallel scales.

Play a few notes of each and notice C♯ becoming C, F♯ becoming F and G♯ becoming G.

You may also hear natural minor called Aeolian. For now, recognise the name without needing to study the full system of modes.

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Two More Notes to Explore

Your minor pentatonic pattern is already most of the way there.

A minor pentatonic contains A, C, D, E and G. Add B, the second, and F, the minor sixth, to get A natural minor.

Start With What You Know

Play an A minor pentatonic phrase. Add B at fret 7 on the high E string as a passing note between A and C.

Then try F at fret 6 on the B string, moving to E at fret 5. Notice the extra half-step movement.

Play slowly enough to hear the new notes. You do not need to fill every phrase with all seven notes. Use the extra colours when they serve the idea.

Do Not Confuse Relatives and Parallels

A natural minor and C major share all their notes: A, B, C, D, E, F and G. They are relative scales.

A major and A natural minor share a root but use different note collections. They are parallel scales.

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Check Your Understanding

Connect the formula, the step pattern and the notes.

1. Write the natural minor interval formula.
2. Which three degrees are lowered when major becomes natural minor on the same root?
3. G major is G – A – B – C – D – E – F♯. Write G natural minor.
4. Write the natural minor tone/semitone pattern.
5. Which two degrees do you remove from natural minor to get minor pentatonic?
6. Which scale is A natural minor’s relative major? Which major scale is parallel to it?
7. What is another name for natural minor?
8. On the low E string, start A at fret 5. Write the next seven fret positions through the octave.

Playing Task

Compare A major’s C♯ at fret 9 with A minor’s C at fret 8 on the low E string. Play A at fret 5 before each one and name the interval.

Check your answers

1. 1 – 2 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – ♭6 – ♭7.
2. The third, sixth and seventh degrees.
3. G – A – B♭ – C – D – E♭ – F.
4. Tone – semitone – tone – tone – semitone – tone – tone.
5. Remove 2 and ♭6. The result is 1 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – ♭7.
6. Relative major: C major.
   Parallel major: A major.
7. Aeolian, or the Aeolian mode.
8. After fret 5: 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15 and 17.
   Including the starting fret, the full sequence is 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17.

Playing Task Answer

A to C♯ is a major third: four semitones.

A to C is a minor third: three semitones.

Make the Relationship Audible

Play an A minor pentatonic phrase first. Add either B or F and repeat it.

Can you hear which part of the phrase changed? Can you return to the simpler version on purpose?

Next lesson: Turn the natural minor scale into a chord family.