Explore scales · Guitar
F♯ natural minor scale on guitar
F♯ natural minor contains F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D, and E. Box 1 places the root on string 6, fret 2, spanning frets 0–3.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7
How do you play the F♯ natural minor scale on guitar?
F♯ natural minor in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 13 notes across 6 strings, from E on the low E string at fret 0 up to F♯ on the high e string at fret 2. The root falls on the low E string at fret 2 and the high e string at fret 2.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 2 | E, F♯ |
| 5 (A) | 0, 2 | A, B |
| 4 (D) | 0, 2 | D, E |
| 3 (G) | 1, 2 | G♯, A |
| 2 (B) | 0, 2, 3 | B, C♯, D |
| 1 (e) | 0, 2 | E, F♯ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
F♯ natural minor in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 16 notes across 6 strings, from F♯ on the low E string at fret 2 up to A on the high e string at fret 5. The root falls on the low E string at fret 2, the D string at fret 4 and the high e string at fret 2.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2, 4, 5 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 5 (A) | 2, 4, 5 | B, C♯, D |
| 4 (D) | 2, 4 | E, F♯ |
| 3 (G) | 2, 4 | A, B |
| 2 (B) | 2, 3, 5 | C♯, D, E |
| 1 (e) | 2, 4, 5 | F♯, G♯, A |
Box 3 · frets 4–7
F♯ natural minor in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 17 notes across 6 strings, from G♯ on the low E string at fret 4 up to B on the high e string at fret 7. The root falls on the D string at fret 4 and the B string at fret 7.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 5, 7 | G♯, A, B |
| 5 (A) | 4, 5, 7 | C♯, D, E |
| 4 (D) | 4, 6, 7 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 3 (G) | 4, 6, 7 | B, C♯, D |
| 2 (B) | 5, 7 | E, F♯ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 5, 7 | G♯, A, B |
Box 4 · frets 7–10
F♯ natural minor in box 4 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 15 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 A string at fret 9 and the B string at fret 7.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7, 9, 10 | B, C♯, D |
| 5 (A) | 7, 9 | E, F♯ |
| 4 (D) | 7, 9 | A, B |
| 3 (G) | 7, 9 | D, E |
| 2 (B) | 7, 9, 10 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 1 (e) | 7, 9, 10 | B, C♯, D |
Box 5 · frets 9–12
F♯ natural minor in box 5 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 17 notes across 6 strings, from C♯ on the low E string at fret 9 up to E on the high e string at fret 12. The root falls on the A string at fret 9 and the G string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 10, 12 | C♯, D, E |
| 5 (A) | 9, 11, 12 | F♯, G♯, A |
| 4 (D) | 9, 11, 12 | B, C♯, D |
| 3 (G) | 9, 11 | E, F♯ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 10, 12 | G♯, A, B |
| 1 (e) | 9, 10, 12 | C♯, D, E |
Why it sounds like that
F♯ natural minor is the Aeolian mode of A major, built as 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7. It adds G♯ and D to F♯ minor pentatonic. The pattern is W, H, W, W, H, W, W.
When to use it
F♯ natural minor fits F♯ minor and F♯ 5th chords. Use it in F♯ minor or A major keys. It works for rock and fusion lines.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 1 first. It keeps the root on string 6, fret 2, and covers frets 0–3 for a compact lower-position pattern.
Common questions
What notes are in F♯ natural minor?
F♯ natural minor contains F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D, and E. The intervals are 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7. It is the Aeolian mode of A major. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords does F♯ natural minor fit?
F♯ natural minor fits F♯ minor and F♯ 5th chords. It also works over A major and D major chords. Use it for minor-key progressions.
How is F♯ natural minor different from F♯ minor pentatonic?
F♯ natural minor adds G♯ and D to F♯ minor pentatonic. The pentatonic has five notes; natural minor has seven. The extra notes create a more complete minor sound.