Table of Contents
What is the A Natural Minor Scale?
The A natural minor scale is a 7-note scale that contains all 7 natural notes from Western Harmony, starting from the root note A. This gives you the notes: A-B-C-D-E-F-G
It has 2 other popular names:
- The A minor scale
- The A Aeolian mode
Also, it’s the relative minor of the C major scale, meaning it’s the minor scale built from the 6th degree of the C major scale. This means the 2 scales share the same notes.
Playing The A Natural Minor Scale on Guitar
Here are 3 popular ways to play the scale.
Single-String
The single-string shape is played on the A string, and you can use your index finger (1st finger) to play the shape. Pay attention to the interval structure so you can apply the scale in other positions of the fretboard.
Octave Shape
The second shape spans one octave, making it a useful pattern to use at any “A” root note.
3 Notes-Per-String
The 3 notes-per-string A minor shape is useful for improvising and writing songs. It’s also an easy shape to transpose.
