Learn the C natural minor scale — notes, intervals, chords, modes, and more.
The C natural minor scale contains the following notes:
C – D – E♭ – F – G – A♭ – B♭The scale degrees of the C natural minor scale are:
1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7| Scale Degree | Note |
|---|---|
| 1 | C |
| 2 | D |
| ♭3 | E♭ |
| 4 | F |
| 5 | G |
| ♭6 | A♭ |
| ♭7 | B♭ |
The C natural minor scale uses the interval pattern W, H, W, W, H, W, W
| From | To | Step |
|---|---|---|
| C | D | W |
| D | E♭ | H |
| E♭ | F | W |
| F | G | W |
| G | A♭ | H |
| A♭ | B♭ | W |
| B♭ | C | W |
| Scale Degree | Note | Interval from C |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Perfect Unison |
| 2 | D | Major 2nd |
| ♭3 | E♭ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | F | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | G | Perfect 5th |
| ♭6 | A♭ | Minor 6th |
| ♭7 | B♭ | Minor 7th |
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| i | Cm | C, E♭, G |
| ii° | Ddim | D, F, A♭ |
| III | E♭ | E♭, G, B♭ |
| iv | Fm | F, A♭, C |
| v | Gm | G, B♭, D |
| VI | A♭ | A♭, C, E♭ |
| VII | B♭ | B♭, D, F |
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| i7 | Cm7 | C, E♭, G, B♭ |
| iiø7 | Dm7♭5 | D, F, A♭, C |
| IIImaj7 | E♭maj7 | E♭, G, B♭, D |
| iv7 | Fm7 | F, A♭, C, E♭ |
| v7 | Gm7 | G, B♭, D, F |
| VImaj7 | A♭maj7 | A♭, C, E♭, G |
| VII7 | B♭7 | B♭, D, F, A♭ |
The modes of C natural minor use the same notes but start on different scale degrees.
| Mode | Starting note | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| E♭ Ionian | E♭ | E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D |
| F Dorian | F | F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D, E♭ |
| G Phrygian | G | G, A♭, B♭, C, D, E♭, F |
| A♭ Lydian | A♭ | A♭, B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G |
| B♭ Mixolydian | B♭ | B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭ |
| C Aeolian | C | C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭ |
| D Locrian | D | D, E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C |
The relative major is E♭ major. E♭ major uses the exact same 7 notes as C natural minor — natural minor is simply the 6th mode (Aeolian) of the major scale.
C natural minor has a minor 3rd (E♭), minor 6th (A♭), and minor 7th (B♭), while C major has a major 3rd (E), major 6th (A), and major 7th (B). These three flattened degrees give natural minor its darker, more melancholic character.
The only difference is the 6th degree. C natural minor has a minor 6th (A♭), while C 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.