Guitar scale
A Natural Minor (Aeolian) Guitar Scale
A Natural Minor (Aeolian) is a seven-note scale built from A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. It is the 6th relative mode of C major. It is also commonly called A Aeolian. Use it to study the scale's notes, interval formula, and guitar fretboard positions.
- Notes
- ABCDEFG
- Formula
- 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
- Semitones
- 0 2 3 5 7 8 10
- Parent scale
- C major
- Also called
- A Aeolian
How to read this scale
The notes are shown as pitch classes first. Square markers represent A root notes in the fretboard view, while circular markers represent the other notes in the scale.
Use the interactive fretboard to locate the A root notes and connect the remaining natural minor (aeolian) tones across standard tuning.
This same note pattern is also commonly called A Aeolian.
Fretboard diagram
Open this scale in the fretboard tool
Start with A Natural Minor (Aeolian) loaded, then adjust tuning, labels, colors, fret count, and orientation.
Open in interactive fretboardCommon chords and contexts
- Use A natural minor over A minor, Am7, and minor-key progressions.
- It is the standard minor scale sound and the 6th mode of its relative major scale.