Explore scales · Guitar
A natural minor scale on guitar
A natural minor contains A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. Box 1 keeps the root on string 6, fret 5 for a compact five-fret pattern.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7
How do you play the A natural minor scale on guitar?
A natural minor in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 17 notes across 6 strings, from E on the low E string at fret 0 up to G on the high e string at fret 3. The root falls on the A string at fret 0 and the G string at fret 2.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 1, 3 | E, F, G |
| 5 (A) | 0, 2, 3 | A, B, C |
| 4 (D) | 0, 2, 3 | D, E, F |
| 3 (G) | 0, 2 | G, A |
| 2 (B) | 0, 1, 3 | B, C, D |
| 1 (e) | 0, 1, 3 | E, F, G |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
A natural minor in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 13 notes across 6 strings, from G on the low E string at fret 3 up to A on the high e string at fret 5. The root falls on the low E string at fret 5 and the high e string at fret 5.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3, 5 | G, A |
| 5 (A) | 3, 5 | C, D |
| 4 (D) | 3, 5 | F, G |
| 3 (G) | 4, 5 | B, C |
| 2 (B) | 3, 5, 6 | D, E, F |
| 1 (e) | 3, 5 | G, A |
Box 3 · frets 5–8
A natural minor in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 16 notes across 6 strings, from A on the low E string at fret 5 up to C on the high e string at fret 8. The root falls on the low E string at fret 5, the D string at fret 7 and the high e string at fret 5.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 5, 7, 8 | A, B, C |
| 5 (A) | 5, 7, 8 | D, E, F |
| 4 (D) | 5, 7 | G, A |
| 3 (G) | 5, 7 | C, D |
| 2 (B) | 5, 6, 8 | E, F, G |
| 1 (e) | 5, 7, 8 | A, B, C |
Box 4 · frets 7–10
A natural minor in box 4 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 17 notes across 6 strings, from B on the low E string at fret 7 up to D on the high e string at fret 10. The root falls on the D string at fret 7 and the B string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7, 8, 10 | B, C, D |
| 5 (A) | 7, 8, 10 | E, F, G |
| 4 (D) | 7, 9, 10 | A, B, C |
| 3 (G) | 7, 9, 10 | D, E, F |
| 2 (B) | 8, 10 | G, A |
| 1 (e) | 7, 8, 10 | B, C, D |
Box 5 · frets 10–13
A natural minor in box 5 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 15 notes across 6 strings, from D on the low E string at fret 10 up to F on the high e string at fret 13. The root falls on the A string at fret 12 and the B string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10, 12, 13 | D, E, F |
| 5 (A) | 10, 12 | G, A |
| 4 (D) | 10, 12 | C, D |
| 3 (G) | 10, 12 | F, G |
| 2 (B) | 10, 12, 13 | A, B, C |
| 1 (e) | 10, 12, 13 | D, E, F |
Why it sounds like that
A natural minor is the Aeolian mode of C major, built as 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7. It differs from A minor pentatonic by adding B and F. The pattern is W, H, W, W, H, W, W.
When to use it
A natural minor fits A minor and A 5th chords. Use it over progressions in A minor or C major. It suits rock, metal, and folk lines.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 1 first. It places the root under your first finger on string 6, fret 5, and covers frets 0–3 for easy access to open-string chords.
Common questions
What notes are in A natural minor?
A natural minor contains A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. The intervals are 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7. It is the Aeolian mode of C major.
Which chords does A natural minor fit?
A natural minor fits A minor and A 5th chords. It also works over C major and F major chords. Use it for minor-key progressions.
How is A natural minor different from A minor pentatonic?
A natural minor adds B and F to A minor pentatonic. The pentatonic has five notes; natural minor has seven. The extra notes create a more complete minor sound.