E F♯ G A B C D 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 7 positions Position 1 at frets 0-5
The natural minor, or Aeolian mode, is the darker twin of the major scale: rock ballads, metal riffs and film themes live in it. It has the same notes as its relative major, centred on another root. On the guitar it falls into 7 positions. Position 1 starts on the root, frets 0-5. The root E is at fret 0 and 12 on the low E string and fret 7 on the A string.
e|-------------------------------2-3-5-| B|-------------------------1-3-5-------| G|-------------------0-2-4-------------| D|-------------0-2-4-------------------| A|-------0-2-3-------------------------| E|-0-2-3-------------------------------|
e|-------------------------------3-5-7-| B|-------------------------3-5-7-------| G|-------------------2-4-5-------------| D|-------------2-4-5-------------------| A|-------2-3-5-------------------------| E|-2-3-5-------------------------------|
e|-------------------------------5-7-8-| B|-------------------------5-7-8-------| G|-------------------4-5-7-------------| D|-------------4-5-7-------------------| A|-------3-5-7-------------------------| E|-3-5-7-------------------------------|
e|--------------------------------7-8-10-| B|-------------------------7-8-10--------| G|-------------------5-7-9---------------| D|-------------5-7-9---------------------| A|-------5-7-9---------------------------| E|-5-7-8---------------------------------|
e|-------------------------------------8-10-12-| B|-----------------------------8-10-12---------| G|----------------------7-9-11-----------------| D|---------------7-9-10------------------------| A|--------7-9-10-------------------------------| E|-7-8-10--------------------------------------|
e|------------------------------------------10-12-14-| B|---------------------------------10-12-13----------| G|-------------------------9-11-12-------------------| D|-----------------9-10-12---------------------------| A|---------9-10-12-----------------------------------| E|-8-10-12-------------------------------------------|
e|----------------------------------------------12-14-15-| B|-------------------------------------12-13-15----------| G|----------------------------11-12-14-------------------| D|-------------------10-12-14----------------------------| A|----------10-12-14-------------------------------------| E|-10-12-14----------------------------------------------|
Strings from the low E (left) to the high E (right), frets numbered on the left. Magenta dots are the root, E. The tab under each diagram plays the position from its lowest note to its highest; play it back down the same way.
The positions above are slices of this map. They overlap: the highest notes of one are the lowest notes of the next, so once you know two neighbours you can slide from one to the other along a string.
7 notes: E F♯ G A B C D. In whole (W) and half (H) steps: W H W W H W W. The half steps are where the scale gets its colour.
| Note | Degree | Interval from the root | Half steps | Fret on the low E string |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E | 1 | Root | 0 | 0 |
| F♯ | 2 | Major 2nd | 2 | 2 |
| G | b3 | Minor 3rd | 3 | 3 |
| A | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 | 5 |
| B | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 | 7 |
| C | b6 | Minor 6th | 8 | 8 |
| D | b7 | Minor 7th | 10 | 10 |
Start with Position 1, root under the index finger on the low E string, and play it over a minor chord drone. Resolve phrases on the root, the minor third and the fifth.
Same notes, another root: G major. The shapes on the neck are the same; only the note you start and end on changes.
The harmonic minor raises the 7th degree by a half step, which gives the scale a stronger pull back to the root. Compare the two: E harmonic minor.
Set the tempo low, play each position up and down with the button above, then try it yourself at the same speed. Raise the tempo by 4 BPM only when it is clean.
Going up: E, F♯, G, A, B, C, D, then E an octave higher. Its formula is 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7.
Start with position 1, frets 0-5: the root E is under your open low E string on the low E string. Play three notes on each string, from the low E to the high E, then back down. The diagrams and tabs on this page show all 7 positions.
On the low E string at fret 0 and 12, on the A string at fret 7. Those two root notes anchor most scale positions and barre chords.
The harmonic minor raises the 7th degree by a half step, which gives the scale a stronger pull back to the root.
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