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