A Minor Scale on Guitar: Positions & Theory
In this lesson we’re going to take a look at the A Minor Scale on guitar. We’ll explore the scale formula, notes that make up the scale, chords that are found within the scale and the five positions of the A minor scale. Let’s get started.
Notes of A Minor Scale
The A minor scale is a 7-note diatonic scale that contains all natural notes and no sharps or flats.
A – B – C – D – E – F – G
Intervals
All minor scales share the same interval qualities. The intervals for A minor are as follows:
- Root
- Major 2nd
- Minor 3rd
- Perfect 4th
- Perfect 5th
- Minor 6th
- Minor 7th
Below we see the relationship between the notes and intervals of the A minor scale, with the root note highlighted in orange.
Scale Structure
All minor scales share a set pattern of whole steps and half steps between the notes of the scale which make up the interval qualities of the scale.
For A minor we have the following pattern of whole and half steps:
Whole Step – Half Step – Whole Step – Whole Step – Half Step – Whole Step – Whole Step
On the guitar, a whole step is equal to 2 frets while a half step is equal to 1 fret.
Let’s visualize it on the fretboard:
If we work through the scale starting from A and count the steps between notes, we get the following:
- From A to B is 2 frets (whole step)
- From B to C is 1 fret (half step)
- From C to D is 2 frets (whole step)
- From D to E is 2 frets (whole step)
- From E to F is 1 fret (half step)
- From F to G is 2 frets (whole step)
- From G to A is 2 frets (whole step)
A Minor Scale Guitar Positions
The minor scale can be grouped into five distinct patterns based in the CAGED system. These patterns apply to all natural minor scales and make it much easier to learn the scale across the entire fretboard.
Below we go through each position/pattern of the A minor scale. For each position, three diagrams are provided notating the following:
- Diagram 1: Notes
- Diagram 2: Intervals
- Diagram 3: Fingerings
As you work through each position, pay close attention to the root note patterns. These patterns will help you visualize each position and move between them more easily.
Start each scale pattern on the lowest root note and play through it both ascending and descending, as shown in the guitar tab. This will train your ear to become familiar with the sound of the interval pattern of the minor scale relative to the root note.
Position 1
Position 1 of the A minor scale starts with the low root on the 5th fret of string 6. Starting with this note, play each note ascending and descending, ending back on the same root note in which you start.
Make note of the root note pattern in this position. Position 1 contains 3 root notes, which are found on strings 1, 4, and 6.
Position 2
In position 2, the low root note is found on the 7th fret of string 4.
This position contains two root notes, which are found on strings 4 and 2.
Position 3
Position 3 begins with the root note on fret 12 of the 5th string. The two root notes for this position are found on strings 2 and 5.
Position 4
Position 4 contains two root notes, which are on strings 3 and 5. Begin the pattern with the root note on the 12th fret of the 5th string.
Position 5
Similar to position 1, position 5 has three root notes which fall on strings 1, 4, and 6. Begin this position of the scale on the root note of the 6th string.
Connecting the A Minor Scale Positions
Each position of the A minor scale connects to adjacent scale patterns via shared notes. The scale diagrams below highlights these connections.
These patterns repeat up and down the fretboard.
Building the Chords in A Minor
The chords of a given scale come directly from the notes in the scale. To get the chords of the A minor scale, we go note by note of the scale and build triads for each.
Let’s go through each note of the A minor scale and stack the root, 3rd and 5th intervals to create the chords of A minor.
A – B – C – D – E – F – G
A Minor Chord
Starting with A as the root, if we take the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes we get the following triad:
A – B – C – D – E – F – G
- A – C – E
This gives us a root, minor 3rd, and perfect 5th interval, which creates a minor triad giving us the A minor chord.
Bdim Chord
Starting with the second note of the scale, B, as the root, if we take the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes we get the following triad:
B – C – D – E – F – G – A
- B – D – F
This triad contains a minor 3rd and a flat 5th interval, giving us a diminished triad. This creates the B diminished chord.
C Major Chord
Starting with C as the root, the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes give us the following triad:
C – D – E – F – G – A – B
- C – E – G
This gives us a root, major 3rd, and perfect 5th interval, which creates a major triad giving us the C major chord.
D Minor Chord
Starting from D we get the following triad:
D – E – F – G – A – B – C
- D – F – A
This gives us a root, minor 3rd, and perfect 5th, which creates a minor triad giving us the D minor chord.
E Minor Chord
From E, the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes give us the following:
E – F – G – A – B – C – D
- E – G – B
This gives us a root, minor 3rd, and perfect 5th, which creates a minor triad giving us the E minor chord.
F Major Chord
From F, the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes give us the following:
F – G – A – B – C – D – E
- F – A – C
This gives us a root, major 3rd, and perfect 5th intervals, which creates a major triad giving us the F major chord.
G Major Chord
Finally, from G we get the following notes:
G – A – B – C – D – E – F
- G – B – D
This gives us a root, major 3rd and perfect 5th, creating a major triad.
Putting it all together gives us the following chords for A minor:
| Chord | Am | Bdim | C | Dm | Em | F | G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | A-C-E | B-D-F | C-E-G | D-F-A | E-G-B | F-A-C | G-B-D |
Relative Major of A Minor
Every major scale has a relative minor scale, which is a minor a scale that contains all of the same notes and chords as the major. It occurs on the 3rd degree of the minor scale, which for A minor is C. So the relative minor for A minor is C major.
While it contains all of the same notes and chords, it has a tonal center based around C instead of A.
| Degree | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | C | D | E | F | G | A | B |
Parallel Major of A Minor
The parallel major is the major scale built from the same root note as the minor scale. For A minor, the parallel major scale is the A major scale.
| Degree | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Minor | A | B | C | D | E | F | G |
| A Major | A | B | C# | D | E | F# | G# |
Modes
The modes for A minor are as follows:
- A Aeolian (Minor)
- B Locrian (Minor)
- C Ionian (Major)
- D Dorian (Minor)
- E Phrygian (Minor)
- F Lydian (Major)
- G Mixolydian (Major)
Songs in the Key of A Minor
Below are a few songs that are played in the key of A minor.
- “Fade to Black” – Metallica
- “Stairway to Heaven” – Led Zeppelin
- “One” – U2
Wrap Up
In this lesson we took a deeper look at the A minor scale, learning the notes, intervals, chords, scale positions and more. Practice the scale in all five positions until you have them under your fingers. You can adapt the exercise patterns from the Guitar Scale Exercises lesson to really get the patterns down fluently.
Once you have the scale positions memorized, you can begin to create your own licks to play to a backing track.
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