Learn how to play a new minor scale on guitar with this step-by-step A minor scale guitar lesson. You’ll learn scale positions, how the scale works, and more!
A Minor Scale Guitar Lesson
A minor scale notes
There are seven notes in the A natural minor scale, and all of them are natural notes.
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
A minor scale formula
The formula for the A Minor Scale and every other minor scale is 1-2-b3-4-5-b6-b7.
Learn more about the minor scale formula.
A Minor Scale Intervals (Half and Whole steps)
The half and whole step sequence for the A Minor Scale and every other minor scale is:
W-H-W-W-H-W-W
Scale degrees of the A minor scale
| i | ii° | III | iv | v | VI | VII |
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G |
A Minor Chord
The A Minor Chord is the root chord (the 1st chord) in the A Minor Scale.
Learn the guitar chords in the key of a minor
Relative major of A minor
The relative major of A minor is C major.
Lesson: Learn the 7th Chords of C Major.
How to play the A Minor Scale
You can play the A Minor Scale on guitar by finding the A note and following the minor scale formula, which results in the notes A-B-C-D-E-F-G.
By doing this you’ll end up with countless positions and shapes for the A minor scale.
As for this lesson, you’ll look at the A minor scales’ CAGED positions, open position, and other related scales.
A Minor Scale CAGED Positions
Learn more about the CAGED system here.
Position 1
Position 2
Position 3
Position 4/ Open Position
Position 5
Modes of A minor
The seven modes of the A minor scale are:
- A Aeolian
- B Locrian
- C Ionian
- D Dorian
- E Phrygian
- F Lydian
- G Mixolydian
A Minor Scale Guitar Fretboard Diagram
A Minor Scale Guitar Fretboard Diagram PDF
Related Scales Resources
Top 5 Essential Guitar Scales for Beginners
