After reading this post, and of coarse practicing, you will be able to write and play all of the minor guitar scales in three froms – natural, harmonic and melodic.

The minor guitar scale is based on the major guitar scale. The A minor scale for example, has the same key signature (contains the same notes) as the C major scale, whereas there are no sharps or flats. This means C Major and A Minor are considered relative scales. To construct any minor scale, simply start at the 6th note of any major scale. This is known as a natural minor guitar scale.

Natural Minor Scales

C Major Scale:

A Natural Minor Scale: (starting at the sixth note of C major)

The natural minor scale begins on the 6th note of its relative major scale and has no changes to the key signature. Another example:

Eb Major Scale:

C Natural Minor Scale: (starting at the 6th note of Eb major)

NOTE: When playing, remember to pay attention to the key signature of the major scale. Eb major scale for example, has 3 flats in it’s key signature – Eb, Ab, and Bb. These flats tranfer over to its relative minor – the C minor scale.

The pattern of whole and half steps for a natural minor guitar scale is therefore related to the pattern for a major guitar scale starting on the 6th – W, H, W, W, H, W, W.

Harmonic Minor Scales

Harmonic minor guitar scales are easy to create. Simply raise the 7th note by one half step.

C Harmonic Minor Scale:

Melodic Minor Scales

To build a melodic minor scale, raise the 6th and 7th note by a half step when ascending and when descending, return them to the original tones.

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