The natural minor scale on guitar
Major's darker twin: the same seven-note family, but starting from the 6th degree. Also called the Aeolian mode.
A Natural Minor
A1B2C♭3D4E5F♭6G♭7
Formula: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 · Steps: W · H · W · W · H · W · W (W = whole step, H = half step) · 7 notes
Where it sits on the neck
Every A Natural Minor note from the open strings to the 12th fret, standard tuning. Gold dots are the root. Above the 12th fret the pattern repeats.
On a phone, swipe the diagram sideways to see the whole neck.
Songs that use it
- All Along the Watchtower (Jimi Hendrix). Its i–♭VII–♭VI chord loop is pure natural minor.
In Fretdle
It's the daily board's scale on Thursdays. The scale's notes are hidden on the board: you only see the roots, so knowing this pattern is the whole game.