F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D E 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 8 positions Position 1 at frets 2-7
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 8 positions, including an open position near the nut. Position 1 starts on the root, frets 2-7. The root F♯ is at fret 2 on the low E string and fret 9 on the A string.
e|-----------------------------0-2-4-| B|-----------------------0-2-3-------| G|-------------------1-2-------------| D|-------------0-2-4-----------------| A|-------0-2-4-----------------------| E|-0-2-4-----------------------------|
e|-------------------------------4-5-7-| B|-------------------------3-5-7-------| G|-------------------2-4-6-------------| D|-------------2-4-6-------------------| A|-------2-4-5-------------------------| E|-2-4-5-------------------------------|
e|-------------------------------5-7-9-| B|-------------------------5-7-9-------| G|-------------------4-6-7-------------| D|-------------4-6-7-------------------| A|-------4-5-7-------------------------| E|-4-5-7-------------------------------|
e|--------------------------------7-9-10-| B|-------------------------7-9-10--------| G|-------------------6-7-9---------------| D|-------------6-7-9---------------------| A|-------5-7-9---------------------------| E|-5-7-9---------------------------------|
e|-------------------------------------9-10-12-| B|-----------------------------9-10-12---------| G|----------------------7-9-11-----------------| D|---------------7-9-11------------------------| A|--------7-9-11-------------------------------| E|-7-9-10--------------------------------------|
e|------------------------------------------10-12-14-| B|---------------------------------10-12-14----------| G|-------------------------9-11-13-------------------| D|-----------------9-11-12---------------------------| A|---------9-11-12-----------------------------------| E|-9-10-12-------------------------------------------|
e|----------------------------------------------12-14-16-| B|-------------------------------------12-14-15----------| G|----------------------------11-13-14-------------------| D|-------------------11-12-14----------------------------| A|----------11-12-14-------------------------------------| E|-10-12-14----------------------------------------------|
e|----------------------------------------------14-16-17-| B|-------------------------------------14-15-17----------| G|----------------------------13-14-16-------------------| D|-------------------12-14-16----------------------------| A|----------12-14-16-------------------------------------| E|-12-14-16----------------------------------------------|
Strings from the low E (left) to the high E (right), frets numbered on the left. Magenta dots are the root, F♯. 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: F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D E. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F♯ | 1 | Root | 0 | 2 |
| G♯ | 2 | Major 2nd | 2 | 4 |
| A | b3 | Minor 3rd | 3 | 5 |
| B | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 | 7 |
| C♯ | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 | 9 |
| D | b6 | Minor 6th | 8 | 10 |
| E | b7 | Minor 7th | 10 | 0 |
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: A 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: F♯ 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: F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D, E, then F♯ an octave higher. Its formula is 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7.
Start with position 1, frets 2-7: the root F♯ is under your finger 1 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 8 positions.
On the low E string at fret 2, on the A string at fret 9. 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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