The natural minor scale, often referred to as the Aeolian mode, stands as a cornerstone for guitarists across various genres, especially rock and popular music. Understanding this scale is crucial for both lead guitar playing and comprehending chord progressions. This guide will break down the natural minor scale, exploring its construction, fingerboard positions, and practical applications for guitarists.
Understanding the Natural Minor Scale: Aeolian Mode Explained
The natural minor scale shares its notes with a major scale but with a different starting point, effectively making the 6th degree of the major scale the root. Let’s take the example of C major. If we start and end on the 6th note of the C major scale, which is A, we obtain the A natural minor scale. This is also known as the Aeolian mode.
Consider the relationship between the natural minor and its parallel major scale (major scale with the same root). The formula for the natural minor scale in relation to the major scale is:
1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, b7, 1
This formula indicates that to construct a natural minor scale from a major scale with the same root, you simply flatten (lower by a half step) the 3rd, 6th, and 7th degrees.
Natural Minor Scale Formula: Intervals and Structure
The characteristic sound of the natural minor scale arises from its unique arrangement of tones (T) and semitones (S):
Natural Minor Scale = Tone – Semitone – Tone – Tone – Semitone – Tone – Tone (T-S-T-T-S-T-T)
This specific sequence of intervals defines the melancholic and often darker quality associated with minor keys and scales.
Exploring Natural Minor Scale Guitar Positions
Similar to the major scale, learning the natural minor scale across the guitar fretboard involves mastering five essential positions. A recommended approach is to begin with the two positions where the root note falls under your first finger on either the 6th or 5th string. These are often the most intuitive starting points for visualizing the scale.
These two positions provide a solid foundation for navigating the natural minor scale. Once comfortable with these, you can expand your knowledge to encompass the remaining three positions, which link together to cover a wider range of the fretboard.
When practicing these positions, simply running up and down the scale is just the beginning. To truly internalize these patterns, incorporate scale sequences into your practice routine. Exploring scale sequences, as detailed in our article on guitar scale sequences, will significantly enhance your technique and musical vocabulary.
Chords Derived from the Natural Minor Scale
One of the powerful aspects of scales is their ability to generate families of chords that harmonize beautifully within a key. The natural minor scale is no exception. By understanding how chords are formed from scales, a process explained in detail in our guide on forming chords from scales, you can unlock the chord harmony inherent in the natural minor scale. While that article uses the major scale as its primary example, the same principles directly apply to the natural minor scale.
The chords built from the natural minor scale follow a predictable pattern based on the scale degrees. In the key of A natural minor, the chord sequence and their qualities are as follows:
Understanding these chord relationships is vital for songwriting, improvisation, and analyzing the harmonic structure of countless songs.
Utilizing the Natural Minor Scale in Musical Contexts
The natural minor scale is exceptionally prevalent in a wide spectrum of musical styles, most notably in rock, pop, blues, and various forms of popular music. Many chord progressions within these genres are built upon the chords derived from the natural minor scale. Consequently, countless popular songs feature guitar solos and melodies that are entirely based on this scale.
To put your natural minor scale practice into a musical context, explore improvisation over backing tracks specifically designed for the Aeolian mode. Our collection of backing tracks designed for the aeolian mode provides excellent resources for honing your soloing and improvisational skills within the natural minor context.
By mastering the natural minor scale, you unlock a fundamental element of guitar playing and music theory, opening doors to improved soloing, songwriting, and a deeper understanding of music.
