Learn the A natural minor scale — notes, intervals, chords, modes, and more.
The A natural minor scale contains the following notes:
A – B – C – D – E – F – GThe scale degrees of the A natural minor scale are:
1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7| Scale Degree | Note |
|---|---|
| 1 | A |
| 2 | B |
| ♭3 | C |
| 4 | D |
| 5 | E |
| ♭6 | F |
| ♭7 | G |
The A natural minor scale uses the interval pattern W, H, W, W, H, W, W
| From | To | Step |
|---|---|---|
| A | B | W |
| B | C | H |
| C | D | W |
| D | E | W |
| E | F | H |
| F | G | W |
| G | A | W |
| Scale Degree | Note | Interval from A |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Perfect Unison |
| 2 | B | Major 2nd |
| ♭3 | C | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | D | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | E | Perfect 5th |
| ♭6 | F | Minor 6th |
| ♭7 | G | Minor 7th |
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| i | Am | A, C, E |
| ii° | Bdim | B, D, F |
| III | C | C, E, G |
| iv | Dm | D, F, A |
| v | Em | E, G, B |
| VI | F | F, A, C |
| VII | G | G, B, D |
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| i7 | Am7 | A, C, E, G |
| iiø7 | Bm7♭5 | B, D, F, A |
| IIImaj7 | Cmaj7 | C, E, G, B |
| iv7 | Dm7 | D, F, A, C |
| v7 | Em7 | E, G, B, D |
| VImaj7 | Fmaj7 | F, A, C, E |
| VII7 | G7 | G, B, D, F |
The modes of A natural minor use the same notes but start on different scale degrees.
| Mode | Starting note | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| C Ionian | C | C, D, E, F, G, A, B |
| D Dorian | D | D, E, F, G, A, B, C |
| E Phrygian | E | E, F, G, A, B, C, D |
| F Lydian | F | F, G, A, B, C, D, E |
| G Mixolydian | G | G, A, B, C, D, E, F |
| A Aeolian | A | A, B, C, D, E, F, G |
| B Locrian | B | B, C, D, E, F, G, A |
The relative major is C major. C major uses the exact same 7 notes as A natural minor — natural minor is simply the 6th mode (Aeolian) of the major scale.
A natural minor has a minor 3rd (C), minor 6th (F), and minor 7th (G), while A major has a major 3rd (C♯), major 6th (F♯), and major 7th (G♯). These three flattened degrees give natural minor its darker, more melancholic character.
The only difference is the 6th degree. A natural minor has a minor 6th (F), while A Dorian has a major 6th. That raised 6th makes Dorian sound slightly brighter and more versatile, while natural minor has a deeper, more traditional minor quality.