The Minor Guitar Scale stands as a cornerstone for guitarists eager to explore deeper musical expression and craft compelling lead guitar solos. Building upon the foundational knowledge of the major scale, the minor scale introduces a new dimension of musical color and emotion.
Before diving into the intricacies of the minor scale, ensure you have a solid grasp of the major scale. If you haven’t yet, consider reviewing resources on The Major Scale to establish a strong foundation.
Unveiling the Minor Scale Formula
Like its major counterpart, the minor scale is constructed from seven notes, defined by a specific sequence of whole steps (W) and half steps (H). This unique arrangement of intervals gives the minor scale its characteristic sound, distinct from the brighter tone of the major scale. The formula that dictates this arrangement is:
W – H – W – W – H – W – W
This formula is the key to constructing any minor scale, regardless of the root note.
Decoding the A Minor Scale Notes
To understand the minor scale in practice, let’s apply the formula to create an A minor scale. We begin with our root note, A, and follow the whole and half step pattern.
Starting on A:
- A to B: Whole step (W)
- B to C: Half step (H)
- C to D: Whole step (W)
- D to E: Whole step (W)
- E to F: Half step (H)
- F to G: Whole step (W)
- G to A: Whole step (W)
This gives us the notes of the A minor scale: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A.
The Notes Of The A Minor Scale
Understanding Minor Scale Degrees
Numbering the notes within the minor scale helps in understanding its structure and relationship to other scales. Each note is assigned a degree, from 1 to 7, starting from the root note.
In the A minor scale:
- 1st Degree (Root): A
- 2nd Degree: B
- 3rd Degree: C
- 4th Degree: D
- 5th Degree: E
- 6th Degree: F
- 7th Degree: G
Knowing these degrees is crucial for understanding intervals within the scale and how minor scales relate to chords and melodies.
Exploring Relative Major and Minor Scales
A fascinating aspect of music theory is the concept of relative major and minor scales. Every minor scale has a relative major scale that shares the exact same notes but starts on a different root.
To find the relative major of a minor scale, you can move up three frets (or three semitones) from the root note of the minor scale. Alternatively, you can locate the 3rd degree of the minor scale; this note will be the root of the relative major.
In our A minor scale, the 3rd degree is C. Therefore, the relative major scale of A minor is C major. Both scales contain the same notes (A, B, C, D, E, F, G), just starting from a different point.
Common Shapes for C Major and A Minor Scales
Here are commonly used fretboard patterns for both C major and A minor scales. The black dots clearly indicate the root notes – C for the C major scale and A for the A minor scale. Notice how the shapes interlock and share a similar pattern, reflecting their relative relationship.
C Major & A Minor Scales
Expanding Your Reach with the Extended A Minor Scale
Since the A minor and C major scales are relatives and share the same notes, we can combine their standard shapes to create a larger, “extended” scale pattern. This extended shape provides a wider range of notes across the fretboard, allowing for more fluid and expressive playing.
C Major and A Minor Extended Scale Patterns
The extended C major and A minor scale shapes are virtually identical, differing only in the location of their root notes. In the C major extended shape, the C notes are the roots, while in the A minor extended shape, the A notes are the roots. This shared pattern further emphasizes their close relationship and allows you to easily switch between major and minor tonalities.
C Major & A Minor Extended Scales
Horizontal View of the Extended Minor Scale
Another perspective on the extended A minor scale shape is to view it horizontally across the fretboard. This perspective can be helpful for visualizing scale runs and understanding how the pattern connects across different strings.
Transposing the Extended Minor Scale to Other Keys
The beauty of these scale shapes lies in their portability. To use the extended minor scale shape in a different minor key, simply shift the entire shape up or down the fretboard so that the root notes align with the desired root note.
For example, to play a B minor scale using this shape, move the entire pattern up two frets. The A root notes will now be positioned at B, effectively transposing the scale to B minor.
Minor scales are essential tools for any guitarist aiming to play lead guitar and improvise effectively. By understanding the formula, shapes, and relationships of the minor scale, you unlock a vast landscape of musical possibilities and emotional depth in your playing.
Looking to further your lead guitar journey? Explore Guitareo, Nate Savage’s comprehensive video training system, for step-by-step lessons, song tutorials, and a rich library of jam tracks to put your minor scale knowledge into practice across various musical styles.
