Minor Also known as Aeolian

C Natural Minor

NOTES

C D D♯ F G G♯ A♯ C

SCALE FORMULA

1 – 2 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – ♭6 – ♭7

ABOUT THIS SCALE

A darker counterpart to the major scale and one of the most important minor sounds in rock, metal, blues and popular music.

GUITAR FRETBOARD

Standard tuning — E A D G B E — open through fret 24.

Direction

Speed

Scale note Root Click any note to hear it.

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Playback: The scale follows a practical two-octave route across nearby strings and frets. The note currently sounding turns bright white.

JAM OVER THIS

Chord progression ideas

Key of C

i – ♭VI – ♭VII – i

Cm → G♯ → A♯ → Cm

A classic natural-minor rock progression that clearly establishes the darker Aeolian sound.

i – iv – ♭VII – i

Cm → Fm → A♯ → Cm

Keeps the harmony firmly inside the natural-minor world and works well for rock, metal and melodic lead playing.