Minor
A Natural Minor Scale on Piano
A natural minor — also known as the A Aeolian mode — is the relative minor of C major. It uses the same white keys as C major but starts on A, shifting the tonal center into darker, more reflective territory, and it is usually the first minor scale piano students learn.
Notes of the A Minor Scale
| Degree | Note | Interval from root |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Root |
| 2 | B | Major 2nd |
| 3 | C | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | D | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | E | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | F | Minor 6th |
| 7 | G | Minor 7th |
| 8 | A | Octave |
W-H-W-W-H-W-WW · H · W · W · H · W · WThe natural minor pattern places its half steps between degrees 2–3 (B–C) and 5–6 (E–F).
W = whole step, H = half step.
A Minor on the Staff
One octave ascending in bass clef with the key signature of A minor (no sharps, no flats).
Fingering
- 1A
- 2B
- 3C
- 1D
- 2E
- 3F
- 4G
- 5A
- 5A
- 4B
- 3C
- 2D
- 1E
- 3F
- 2G
- 1A
Numbers indicate fingers: 1 = thumb, 2 = index, 3 = middle, 4 = ring, 5 = little. Both rows are shown in ascending order (low note to high note). Note the left hand starts on the pinky (5) at the lowest note and crosses the middle finger over the thumb to continue upward — that is why the left-hand numbers count down before cycling again.
Diatonic Chords in A Minor
The seven triads built on each scale degree. They use only the notes of this scale; real pieces often add chords with altered notes as well.
Where You Hear This Scale
Because A minor shares its notes with C major, it is the clearest way to hear how the same seven notes can produce two different moods depending on where you rest. Beethoven's Für Elise is in A minor, but listen for the G# it keeps adding: music in a minor key often borrows the raised seventh of the harmonic minor. The natural minor is the plain starting point.
Train Your Ear to Recognize This Scale
Put what you learned into practice with Fortepian's free scale identification exercise. Hear a scale and identify it — 9 progressive levels, from major and minor to modes, pentatonic, blues, and exotic scales. No signup needed.
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