About the A Natural Minor Scale
The A natural minor scale is a 7-note scale. Also known as Aeolian mode, sad and dark sound. Its notes are A, B, C, D, E, F and G, built from the formula 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7.
- Notes
- A – B – C – D – E – F – G
- 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
- A
A Natural Minor Scale degrees and intervals
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Root |
| 2 | B | Major 2nd |
| ♭3 | C | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | D | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | E | Perfect 5th |
| ♭6 | F | Minor 6th |
| ♭7 | G | Minor 7th |
Where to play the A Natural Minor Scale on 6-string bass
Frets 0–12 in standard tuning (B E A D G C), lowest string first. Root notes (A) are highlighted; the pattern repeats from the 12th fret up.
| String | Frets |
|---|---|
| B0 | 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 |
| E1 | 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12 |
| A1 | 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12 |
| D2 | 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12 |
| G2 | 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12 |
| C3 | 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 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 A Natural Minor Scale
These scales share every note with the A 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 A
- A Minor Pentatonic
- A Major Pentatonic
- A Mixolydian Pentatonic
- A Major (Ionian)
- A Blues
- A Dorian
- A Mixolydian
- A Phrygian
- A Harmonic Minor
- A Lydian
- A Locrian
- A Diminished (Half-Whole)
- A Diminished (Whole-Half)
- A Whole Tone
- A Augmented (Hexatonic)
- A Altered (Super Locrian)
- A Phrygian Dominant
- A Lydian Dominant
- A Mixolydian ♭6 (Hindu)
- A Bebop Dominant
- A Quartal (Stacked 4ths)
- A Quartal Minor (Stacked 4ths)