Minor
scale basics
In the constructing
major scales lesson, you learned that a major scale is just
a series of whole steps (2 frets) and half steps (1 fret). And
if you take the natural notes from C to C, this is a C major
scale.
C
major scale
If you take those same notes (C D E F G A B) and
rearrange them to go from A to A, you create a different pattern
of whole steps and half steps. And if you take the natural notes
from A to A, this is an A minor scale. Specifically it is called
an A natural minor scale. There are a couple of other minor
scales (harmonic minor, and melodic minor), but what we are
go to take a look at in this lesson is just the plain natural
minor scale.
A
minor scale
So an A natural minor scale is just the same notes
as a C major scale, only a minor scale starts and ends on the
6th degree of the major scale.
C
D E F G A B C - C major
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 1
2 3 4 5 6
A
B C D E F G A - A minor |
One idea that confuses a lot of people at first
is the idea that a C major scale, and an A minor scale have
exactly the same notes. What makes the difference is how those
same notes are used. Those same 7 notes can sound very different
depending on the situation.
Listen to the the 2 scales just by themselves.
Now listen to both scales in relationship to a C chord, and
to an Am chord.
Page 2, The natural minor
on the neck of the bass guitar 
Natural
minor scale jump zone
