About the C Natural Minor Scale
The C natural minor scale is a 7-note scale. Also known as Aeolian mode, sad and dark sound. Its notes are C, D, D#, F, G, G# and A#, built from the formula 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7.
- Notes
- C – D – D# – F – G – G# – A#
- Formula
- 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7
- Steps
- W H W W H W W (2–1–2–2–1–2–2 semitones)
- Root
- C
C Natural Minor Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Root |
| 2 | D | Major 2nd |
| ♭3 | D# | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | F | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | G | Perfect 5th |
| ♭6 | G# | Minor 6th |
| ♭7 | A# | Minor 7th |
Where to play the C Natural Minor Scale on 5-string bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (B E A D G), lowest string first. Root notes (C) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| B0 | 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11 |
| E1 | 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11 |
| A1 | 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 |
| D2 | 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 |
| G2 | 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12 |
How to practice the natural minor scale
- Learn all 7 positions across the neck
- Practice 3-note-per-string patterns
- Work on legato runs with hammer-ons
- Play over minor progressions (i-iv-v)
- Focus on the ♭6 and ♭7 characteristic tones
Scales with the same notes as C Natural Minor Scale
These scales share every note with the C natural minor scale but start from a different root, so the same shapes work over different chords.
Natural Minor scale in other keys
Other scales in C
- C Minor Pentatonic
- C Major Pentatonic
- C Mixolydian Pentatonic
- C Major (Ionian)
- C Blues
- C Dorian
- C Mixolydian
- C Phrygian
- C Harmonic Minor
- C Lydian
- C Locrian
- C Diminished (Half-Whole)
- C Diminished (Whole-Half)
- C Whole Tone
- C Augmented (Hexatonic)
- C Altered (Super Locrian)
- C Phrygian Dominant
- C Lydian Dominant
- C Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- C Bebop Dominant
- C Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- C Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)