Also written Minor, Pure Minor or Aeolian
C♯ natural minor uses C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A, B. Box 1 places the root on string 3, fret 4 for a higher start.
C♯ natural minor derives from C♯ minor pentatonic by adding D♯ and A. The scale follows W, H, W, W, H, W, W. Those two added notes create the 9 and ♭6 intervals. Compare with C♯ minor pentatonic to hear the difference.
C♯ natural minor fits C♯ minor and C♯ 5th chords. Use it over progressions like C♯m–A–E–B. The scale suits rock, metal, and classical bass lines. Try it with C♯ minor or C♯ 5th.
Practise Box 1 first. The root sits on string 3, fret 4, providing a balanced hand position.
C♯ natural minor in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 2, 8 notes across 4 strings, from E on the E string at fret 0 up to A on the G string at fret 2. No root falls inside this box; it sits between two of them.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 0, 2 | E, F♯ |
| 3 (A) | 0, 2 | A, B |
| 2 (D) | 1, 2 | D♯, E |
| 1 (G) | 1, 2 | G♯, A |
C♯ natural minor in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 9 notes across 4 strings, from F♯ on the E string at fret 2 up to B on the G string at fret 4. The root falls on the A string at fret 4.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2, 4, 5 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 3 (A) | 2, 4 | B, C♯ |
| 2 (D) | 2, 4 | E, F♯ |
| 1 (G) | 2, 4 | A, B |
C♯ natural minor in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 11 notes across 4 strings, from G♯ on the E string at fret 4 up to C♯ on the G string at fret 6. The root falls on the A string at fret 4 and the G string at fret 6.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4, 5, 7 | G♯, A, B |
| 3 (A) | 4, 6, 7 | C♯, D♯, E |
| 2 (D) | 4, 6, 7 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 1 (G) | 4, 6 | B, C♯ |
C♯ natural minor in box 4 runs from fret 7 to fret 9, 8 notes across 4 strings, from B on the E string at fret 7 up to E on the G string at fret 9. The root falls on the E string at fret 9.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 7, 9 | B, C♯ |
| 3 (A) | 7, 9 | E, F♯ |
| 2 (D) | 7, 9 | A, B |
| 1 (G) | 8, 9 | D♯, E |
C♯ natural minor in box 5 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 10 notes across 4 strings, from C♯ on the E string at fret 9 up to F♯ on the G string at fret 11. The root falls on the E string at fret 9 and the D string at fret 11.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9, 11, 12 | C♯, D♯, E |
| 3 (A) | 9, 11, 12 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 2 (D) | 9, 11 | B, C♯ |
| 1 (G) | 9, 11 | E, F♯ |
C♯ natural minor in box 6 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 12 notes across 4 strings, from D♯ on the E string at fret 11 up to A on the G string at fret 14. The root falls on the D string at fret 11.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11, 12, 14 | D♯, E, F♯ |
| 3 (A) | 11, 12, 14 | G♯, A, B |
| 2 (D) | 11, 13, 14 | C♯, D♯, E |
| 1 (G) | 11, 13, 14 | F♯, G♯, A |
C♯ natural minor, position 1 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the ♭3 and runs from fret 0 to fret 4, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the A string at fret 4.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 0, 2, 4 | E, F♯, G♯ |
| 3 (A) | 0, 2, 4 | A, B, C♯ |
| 2 (D) | 1, 2, 4 | D♯, E, F♯ |
| 1 (G) | 1, 2, 4 | G♯, A, B |
C♯ natural minor, position 2 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 4 and runs from fret 2 to fret 6, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the A string at fret 4 and the G string at fret 6.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2, 4, 5 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 3 (A) | 2, 4, 6 | B, C♯, D♯ |
| 2 (D) | 2, 4, 6 | E, F♯, G♯ |
| 1 (G) | 2, 4, 6 | A, B, C♯ |
C♯ natural minor, position 3 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 5 and runs from fret 4 to fret 8, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the A string at fret 4 and the G string at fret 6.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4, 5, 7 | G♯, A, B |
| 3 (A) | 4, 6, 7 | C♯, D♯, E |
| 2 (D) | 4, 6, 7 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 1 (G) | 4, 6, 8 | B, C♯, D♯ |
C♯ natural minor, position 4 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the ♭6 and runs from fret 5 to fret 9, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the E string at fret 9 and the G string at fret 6.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 5, 7, 9 | A, B, C♯ |
| 3 (A) | 6, 7, 9 | D♯, E, F♯ |
| 2 (D) | 6, 7, 9 | G♯, A, B |
| 1 (G) | 6, 8, 9 | C♯, D♯, E |
C♯ natural minor, position 5 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the ♭7 and runs from fret 7 to fret 11, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the E string at fret 9 and the D string at fret 11.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 7, 9, 11 | B, C♯, D♯ |
| 3 (A) | 7, 9, 11 | E, F♯, G♯ |
| 2 (D) | 7, 9, 11 | A, B, C♯ |
| 1 (G) | 8, 9, 11 | D♯, E, F♯ |
C♯ natural minor, position 6 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the root and runs from fret 9 to fret 13, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the E string at fret 9 and the D string at fret 11.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9, 11, 12 | C♯, D♯, E |
| 3 (A) | 9, 11, 12 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 2 (D) | 9, 11, 13 | B, C♯, D♯ |
| 1 (G) | 9, 11, 13 | E, F♯, G♯ |
C♯ natural minor, position 7 of the three-notes-per-string shapes, starts on the 2 and runs from fret 11 to fret 14, three notes on each of 4 strings. The root falls on the D string at fret 11.
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11, 12, 14 | D♯, E, F♯ |
| 3 (A) | 11, 12, 14 | G♯, A, B |
| 2 (D) | 11, 13, 14 | C♯, D♯, E |
| 1 (G) | 11, 13, 14 | F♯, G♯, A |
Every chord here uses only notes from the scale. Tap one to open it.
C♯ natural minor contains C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A, and B. The scale follows the pattern W, H, W, W, H, W, W. Play these notes from C♯ to C♯ to hear the natural minor sound. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
C♯ natural minor works over C♯ minor and C♯ 5th chords. It also fits progressions in the key of C♯ minor. Use it with chords built from the scale, like A major and B major.
C♯ natural minor adds two notes to C♯ minor pentatonic: D♯ and A. These notes create the 9th and ♭6 intervals. The pentatonic scale has five notes, while natural minor has seven.