The Minor Scale on the Guitar
In a recent blog post, we examined a few different ways to play the major scale on the guitar. In this post, we’re going to dissect the minor scale. While songs that use the major scale typically have a more uplifting mood about them, the minor scale has a melancholy vibe of sorts that can feel a bit more dramatic in comparison. There are a handful of variations of the minor scale, but we’re going to stick with the most common form, which is known as the natural minor scale.
What is the Natural Minor Scale?
Commonly referred to simply as the minor scale, the natural minor scale contains 7 distinct pitches (like the major scale) before returning to its origin pitch, but an octave higher. Compared to the major scale, the 3rd, 6th, and 7th tones of the minor scale are a half step lower. These altered notes give the minor scale its characteristic gloominess.
The minor scale is constructed from a specific pattern of whole steps and half steps. Starting from the first note, the interval sequence is: whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step. Regardless of the note on which you begin, the minor scale will always consist of this pattern of intervals. For example, the A minor scale is made of the notes A, B, C, D, E, F, and G.
If you’re brand new to the concept of notes and music theory, it may at first appear that each of these notes are separated by a whole step due to the absence of sharp or flat notes. But the interval between E and F is only a half step, as is the interval between B and C.
To more clearly see how it differs from the major scale, we’ll also spell a C minor scale. As mentioned in our post about the major scale, the C major scale contains the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. To turn it into a C minor scale, we need to lower the 3rd note (E), 6th note (A), and 7th note (B) by a half step. The resulting C minor scale is: C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, and Bb.
The Minor Scale on the Guitar
Next, let’s apply the minor scale a few different ways on the guitar.
On One String
The simplest way to begin applying the major scale on the guitar is to play it on one string. Doing so makes it easy to follow the pattern of intervals that makes up the scale. We’ll pick up with our first example, the A minor scale.
Starting from the open A string (second thickest string), we’ll play through the series of whole steps and half steps that make up the scale. Each whole step requires moving your finger up the neck by two frets, whereas each half step moves up only one fret.
The first note, A, is simply plucking the string without pressing down on any frets. The next note, B, is the 2nd fret on the A string, which is a whole step up from A. The 3rd note, C, is only a half step higher than B, so it’s on the next fret up, which is the 3rd fret. The next note, D, is on the 5th fret. The next note, E, is two frets up on the 7th fret. F is a half step higher, on the 8th fret. G is two frets up from F, on the 10th fret. And finally, return to A on the 12th fret, a whole step above G and an octave above where you started. Refer to the diagram below to see how the scale maps to the A string.
In One Position
It’s possible to play the same scale without moving your hand up the neck at all. We’ll now begin from the 5th fret of the low E string (thickest string).
Start by pressing down with your pointer finger on the 5rd fret of the low E string. This note is A, the first note of the scale. The next note, B, is played by pressing down on the 7th fret of the low E string (same string) with your ring finger. The next note, C, is played by pressing down on the 8th fret of the low E string with your pinky. D is played by pressing the 5th fret of the A string (second thickest string) with your pointer finger. E is located at the 7th fret of the A string (ring finger). F is at the 8th fret of the A string (pinky). G is at the 5th fret of the D string (pointer finger). And finally, we return to A again on the 7th fret of the D string (ring finger), one full octave higher than where we started.
Across Two Strings
The last scale shape we’ll cover here is a fusion of the first two shapes. It involves changing the hand position and playing the scale using 2 strings.
We’ll start from the same note as the previous shape - the A located at the 5th fret on the low E string. Play this first note by pressing down on the fret with your pointer finger. To play the next note, B, slide your pointer finger up to the 7th fret. Play the C by pressing down on the 8th fret with your middle finger, and then the D on the 10th fret with your pinky.
Next, to play the E, use your pointer finger to press on the 7th fret of the A string (5th string). Then slide your pointer finger up to the 8th fret to play the F. Play the G by pressing down on the 10th fret with your middle finger. And finally, play the A on the 12th fret with your pinky.
Challenge Yourself
The above depictions of the minor scale are only some of the ways it can be applied to the guitar. For an additional challenge, try playing two full octaves of the scale instead of just one. It would also be a good idea to play the scale beginning from a higher string, like the G string. You’ll need to slightly modify the scale shape to account for the tuning between the G and B strings (which is only a major 3rd, whereas the other strings are tuned a perfect 4th apart from one another).
Learning multiple ways of playing a scale on the guitar ultimately leads to greater familiarity of the fretboard, while also helping you encode common shapes and movements around the fretboard into muscle memory. You can even try creating your own ways to play scales on the neck.
Further Study
When learning guitar, studying and mastering scales is no small task and will take lots of practice, time, and patience. If taking the journey alone seems intimidating, consider signing up for our group guitar class, the Guitarist’s Roadmap. This class is designed for beginner guitarist’s near Boston that have zero prior experience with playing an instrument. You’ll learn alongside like-minded individuals that are eager to acquire the fundamentals of the guitar while becoming integrated with a growing community of musicians. Click the button below to learn more.