Uploaded April 2017 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The Natural minor scale, also known as simply the Minor scale, is commonly used in all styles of music. When we get to learning about the “modes,” we will talk about how this scale is also known as the Aeolian mode.
The formula is as follows, with the minor intervals include the minor 3rd, 6th, and 7th.
Root
Major 2nd
minor 3rd
4th
5th
minor 6th
minor 7th
Octave
Played across one string, we can see where the Half steps and Whole steps lie.
Whole Half Whole Whole Half Whole Whole
1 w 2 h 3 w 4 w 5 h 6 w 7 w 8
Here are some examples in different keys…
A minor:
A B C D E F G A
E minor:
E F# G A B C D E
D minor:
D E F G A Bb C D
G minor:
G A Bb C D Eb F G
C minor:
C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
F minor:
F G Ab Bb C Db Eb F
B minor:
B C# D E F# G A B
Bb minor:
Bb C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb
Eb minor:
Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db Eb
Ab minor:
Ab Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab
Db minor:
Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb Cb Db
As with any scale, you want to learn it and practice it in all keys, not just in one place on the fretboard. Here’s a link to someone who has mapped out the scale patterns. jayskyler.com/minor-scale-guitar-neck-charts/a-natural-minor-scale-guitar-patterns-chart.html
We talked about the diatonic chord progression as it relates to the Major scale. We can also build chords from the minor scale, as shown below. Roman numerals are often used to number scales. Lower case for minor chords and upper case for Major chords.
1 (i) = minor if a triad, minor7 if a Seventh chord
2 (ii) = diminished if a triad, minor7b5 if a Seventh chord
3 (III) = Major if a triad, Major7 if a Seventh chord
4 (iv) = minor if a triad, minor7 if a Seventh chord
5 (v) = minor if a triad, minor7 if a Seventh chord
6 (VI) = Major if a triad, Major7 if a Seventh chord
7 (VII) = Major if a triad, Dominant 7 if a Seventh chord
Examples:
Chords in the key of A minor =
Am Bdim C Dm Em F G for triads
Am7 Bm7b5 CMaj7 Dm7 Em7 FMaj7 G7 for seventh chords
Chords in the key of E minor =
Em F#dim G Am Bm C D for triads
Em7 F#m7b5 GMaj7 Am7 Bm7 CMaj7 D7 for Seventh chords
Here are some examples of songs with the Minor Scale in them.
Crazy Train: Ozzy Osbourne (F# minor)
Kryptonite: 3 Doors Down (B minor)
Love Song: The Cure (A minor)
And I Love Her: The Beatles (C minor)
Don’t Let Me Down: The Beatles (F# minor)
Nothing Else Matters: Metallica (E minor)
For Whom The Bell Tolls: Metallica (E minor)
Numb: Linkin Park (E minor)
Riptide: Vance Joy (A minor)
Renegades: X Ambassadors (B minor)
Feel Good Inc.: The Gorillaz (Eb minor)
Electric Funeral: Black Sabbath
The Natural minor scale, also known as simply the Minor scale, is commonly used in all styles of music. When we get to learning about the “modes,” we will talk about how this scale is also known as the Aeolian mode.
The formula is as follows, with the minor intervals include the minor 3rd, 6th, and 7th.
Root
Major 2nd
minor 3rd
4th
5th
minor 6th
minor 7th
Octave
Played across one string, we can see where the Half steps and Whole steps lie.
Whole Half Whole Whole Half Whole Whole
1 w 2 h 3 w 4 w 5 h 6 w 7 w 8
Here are some examples in different keys…
A minor:
A B C D E F G A
E minor:
E F# G A B C D E
D minor:
D E F G A Bb C D
G minor:
G A Bb C D Eb F G
C minor:
C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
F minor:
F G Ab Bb C Db Eb F
B minor:
B C# D E F# G A B
Bb minor:
Bb C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb
Eb minor:
Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db Eb
Ab minor:
Ab Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab
Db minor:
Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb Cb Db
As with any scale, you want to learn it and practice it in all keys, not just in one place on the fretboard. Here’s a link to someone who has mapped out the scale patterns. jayskyler.com/minor-scale-guitar-neck-charts/a-natural-minor-scale-guitar-patterns-chart.html
We talked about the diatonic chord progression as it relates to the Major scale. We can also build chords from the minor scale, as shown below. Roman numerals are often used to number scales. Lower case for minor chords and upper case for Major chords.
1 (i) = minor if a triad, minor7 if a Seventh chord
2 (ii) = diminished if a triad, minor7b5 if a Seventh chord
3 (III) = Major if a triad, Major7 if a Seventh chord
4 (iv) = minor if a triad, minor7 if a Seventh chord
5 (v) = minor if a triad, minor7 if a Seventh chord
6 (VI) = Major if a triad, Major7 if a Seventh chord
7 (VII) = Major if a triad, Dominant 7 if a Seventh chord
Examples:
Chords in the key of A minor =
Am Bdim C Dm Em F G for triads
Am7 Bm7b5 CMaj7 Dm7 Em7 FMaj7 G7 for seventh chords
Chords in the key of E minor =
Em F#dim G Am Bm C D for triads
Em7 F#m7b5 GMaj7 Am7 Bm7 CMaj7 D7 for Seventh chords
Here are some examples of songs with the Minor Scale in them.
Crazy Train: Ozzy Osbourne (F# minor)
Kryptonite: 3 Doors Down (B minor)
Love Song: The Cure (A minor)
And I Love Her: The Beatles (C minor)
Don’t Let Me Down: The Beatles (F# minor)
Nothing Else Matters: Metallica (E minor)
For Whom The Bell Tolls: Metallica (E minor)
Numb: Linkin Park (E minor)
Riptide: Vance Joy (A minor)
Renegades: X Ambassadors (B minor)
Feel Good Inc.: The Gorillaz (Eb minor)
Electric Funeral: Black Sabbath
