Part 7: Make a minor key feel like home · Lesson 059 / 117
Build A natural minor
Construct a minor scale with a clear tonic.
The natural minor scale uses W–H–W–W–H–W–W. Starting at A gives A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A. The tonic is A.
Relative to the major-scale interval reference on A, its formula is 1–2–b3–4–5–b6–b7. C is the minor third above A, F the minor sixth, and G the minor seventh. These interval labels do not require the note names themselves to contain flats.
Play the route on one string first. On high E, start at fret 5 and use frets 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17. The neighbouring gaps at B–C and E–F are visible.
Then shorten the task to A–B–C–B–A over an Am backing. Return to A and let it ring. We are establishing a minor tonic, not simply beginning a familiar major fingering on a different note.
Hear it
A Minor
Audio fileFour-beat count-in · 60 BPM · Warm sampled electric guitar. Listen once before playing along.
A concrete example
A natural minor: A B C D E F G A. A short first phrase uses high E frets 5–7–8–7–5.
Try it, slowly
- Write the minor step pattern and check that it totals twelve semitones.
- Play the first three notes slowly.
- Play the short returning phrase over Am and identify A as home.
Check one idea
Why is C labelled b3 relative to A even though its note name has no flat sign?
Show the explanation
C is one semitone below the major third above A, C#. The label b3 describes its interval from A, not the typography of its note name.
A good place to stop
You can construct A natural minor and hear its tonic in the supplied context.
Return to the example after a short break. A clear explanation matters more than speed.