The natural minor scale on bass:
notes, formula and position

The natural minor scale has 7 notes: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7. In A, that gives A, B, C, D, E, F and G. It is “the” minor scale, the relative of the major scale: A minor has the same notes as C major. Its minor sixth makes it darker than Dorian.

Also called: Aeolian mode, minor scale, relative minor.

Formula and notes

1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7

The steps between the notes, from the root to the octave: whole step – half step – whole step – whole step – half step – whole step – whole step. In A:

Where the natural minor scale comes from

It is the 6th mode of the major scale: you play the notes of the major scale starting from its 6th degree. The natural minor scale in A therefore has the same notes as C major. What changes is the home note: the root A, the note your line keeps coming back to.

One position on the neck

The natural minor scale in A, in the 5th-fret position: one finger per fret, from the 4th to the 8th fret, on all four strings. The numbers are the degrees; the root is in gold.

The same position as bass tab (fret by fret, from the low E string to the G string):

G|-4--5--7-|
D|-5--7-|
A|-5--7--8-|
E|-5--7--8-|

For another key, move the whole shape: the root on the E string sets the key (3rd fret for G, 8th fret for C).

The sound of the natural minor scale

Aeolian mode. Melancholic and dark. Relative minor of the major scale (3 semitones below): same notes, same chords. What makes the minor key heard is the V7: raise the 7th by a semitone, the leading tone borrowed from harmonic minor (in A minor: E7, with G♯).

You mostly hear it in rock, metal, pop and classical music.

Which chords to play it over

In A, the natural minor scale fits Am7, Am9 and Am11. On bass, keep the root on the strong beats and use the other notes to connect the chords.

Neighbouring scales

These scales differ from the natural minor scale by a single note. Comparing them lets you hear exactly what that note brings.

• The harmonic minor scale: 7 instead of ♭7.
• The Dorian mode: 6 instead of ♭6.
• The Phrygian mode: ♭2 instead of 2.
• The Mixolydian ♭6 mode: 3 instead of ♭3.
• The Locrian ♮2 mode: ♭5 instead of 5.

Practice it with UnitBasse

This diagram shows a single position, in a single key. In UnitBasse, this scale is shown across the whole neck and in all twelve keys, as note names, intervals or degrees, with one color per degree. You can listen to it, see the chords that go with it, switch keys in one click, and play it over a chord chart with BackTrack, the app’s backing band. The app has 69 scales in 12 families.

Frequently asked questions