Home / Scales / A Minor (Natural Minor / Aeolian)

A Minor (Natural Minor / Aeolian) Scale for Guitar

C Major's darker twin — the same seven notes, a different centre of gravity.

The exact same seven notes as C Major, centred on A instead.
That shift alone gives it a darker, more melancholic character.
The most commonly used minor scale in rock, pop and classical.
Spans five frets — wider than the pentatonics, since it adds two notes.

Position 1 — root on the 6th string, 5th fret

Root2nd3rd4th5th♭67th

Notes: A – B – C – D – E – F – G · Formula: 1 – 2 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – ♭6 – ♭7

Across the Fretboard — Full Neck

Root2nd3rd4th5th♭67th

Position 5 continues further up the neck.

One common CAGED approach; positions vary between teachers/methods.

Every A Natural Minor (Aeolian) note from the open strings to the 17th fret — the root (white ring) repeats every octave.

Hear It For Yourself

This scale sounds even better than it looks.

Light up A Minor (Natural Minor / Aeolian) across the whole fretboard and hear every note in context.

Play A Minor in the Studio →

Questions about A Minor (Natural Minor / Aeolian)

What notes are in the A Minor (Natural Minor / Aeolian) scale?

The A Minor (Natural Minor / Aeolian) scale contains the notes A, B, C, D, E, F, G. Its interval formula is 1 - 2 - ♭3 - 4 - 5 - ♭6 - ♭7, built from A as the root.

What is a relative minor?

The minor scale that shares a major scale's exact notes. A minor is the relative minor of C major — same seven pitches, same key signature, but resolving to A instead of C. It's why swapping between the two feels so natural, and it's one of theory's most useful shortcuts.

How it compares

Harmonic Minor vs Natural MinorComparison Natural Minor vs Minor PentatonicComparison Major vs Natural MinorComparison Compare any two scalesInteractive tool