Lesson 7: Natural Minor

Oct 25, 2023

∙ Paid

This lesson assumes you’ve got a guitar that’s in tune, you know your note names, and understand intervals.

The natural minor scale is the minor scale that is directly related to the major scale (which we will talk about in lesson 8). It is comprised of the intervals:
Root note, Major 2nd, Minor 3rd, Perfect 4th, Perfect 5th, Minor 6th, and Minor 7th

The minor scale is often described as a “sad” sounding scale and a great deal of music is written within a minor framework.

Let’s memorize the shape and fingering and then apply it across the fretboard!

Take a few minutes to analyze the patterns in the diagram below

A minor:

As you begin to apply this to your fretboard, start each string with your index finger and use your ring and pinky to play the 2nd and 3rd notes. Try to play this without large movements by your left hand.

Let’s apply this shape across the fretboard. Play along with the drone backing track. Listen for how each interval of the scale sounds against the drone (playing the root note). As you start, focus on memorizing the shape and running up and down the scale. As you become more comfortable with this shape, start to improvise. Stop on certain any note and get a feel for its sound against the root note.

Let’s get practicing!

Key of A minor: Drone