There’s a few different patterns when it comes to playing the minor scale (or natural minor if you wanna get serious about this) on your guitar. So if you’re someone who likes to learn shapes, then this is the article for you! If you’re someone who likes to know how something is built up, then keep on reading!
Today we’ll be going over how the minor scale is formed, and how you play it in different positions on the neck. Don’t worry, I’ll make it easy. A guitar scale doesn’t have to be daunting!
Make sure you’ve read my post on intervals as well as this’ll help with knowing the distance between notes. Oh, and don’t forget, we’ve already covered the happier major scale so make sure you check that article out as well.
Using the minor scale
Just like with the major scale, the minor scale enables you to build your guitar technique and ear so that you can identify what notes can be played over what chords. Think about it. How many tracks can you say have ONLY major chords in them? Not too many I bet. So learning the minor scale as well (and your CAGED system!) opens up even more possibilities.
Why learn the minor scale?
Much like how the major scale is a huge foundation in western music, the minor scale is just as old and important as the concept of western music in general. To create your own melodies, riffs and chordal progressions, you need the major AND the minor scales.
You’d be surprised how close a call it is between the amount of smash hits written in a minor against a major key. But there are tracks out there in minor. Think about tunes like Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin, or Oasis’ Wonderwall. Head here for a list of some guitar centric classics in a minor key.
Back to intervals
Much like it’s cheerier cousin, the number of notes in this scale comes to 7. The difference being, the third interval is flattened. In guitar terms, it’s brought down a fret, or a semitone. So lets take a look at C Major’s relative key is A minor.
| Degree | Interval | Note in Am | Chord |
| 1st | Root | A | A minor |
| 2nd | Major 2nd | B | B diminished |
| 3rd | Minor 3rd | C | C major |
| 4th | Perfect 4th | D | D minor |
| 5th | Perfect 5th | E | E minor |
| 6th | Minor 6th | F | F major |
| 7th | Minor 7th | G | G major |
Okay, so not exactly wildly different from C major. Same notes. Same chords. Different order. But take a look at the intervals. Although we are using the same notes as in C, the tonal centre has shifted, which changes the distance between the notes.
Pattern one
Just like with our take on the major scale, we’ll only delve into one pattern here. The more commonly used and likely first shape in this particular scale. Again, we need to ensure we’re applying this scale effectively and not just learning random shapes. Once you’ve learned the individual shapes of both major and minor, try linking them together all the way up the neck.
Much like in my previous post on the major scale, this is the 4th shape of the CAGED system when it comes to learning the minor scales. Again, this is likely due to it’s corresponding chord being an E minor shaped chord. Very transposable and easy to work with!
As always, master the individual patterns and shapes, see how they sound over chords you know they work with. Don’t dive straight in to improvising as it’s a good idea to get to grips with where you can place your fingers before you guess!
And now?
Once you’ve developed your confidence with this shape, look at learning the next shapes that work with the minor chords in the CAGED system. See if you can link up some major and minor scales as a warmup. Or, get your favourite tune’s chords, figure out the right scales and go wild!
As always, feel free to get in touch for a free lesson on guitar, or if you have any questions!