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 the reference minor scale every piano student learns first.

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

FormulaW-H-W-W-H-W-WW · H · W · W · H · W · W

The natural minor pattern places the two half steps between degrees 2–3 and 5–6 — one step earlier than in major.

A Minor on the Staff

One octave ascending in bass clef with the key signature of A minor (no sharps, no flats).

Fingering

Right hand

Left hand

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 — the harmonic backbone of any piece written in this key.

iA minor

ii°B diminished

IIIC major

ivD minor

vE minor

VIF major

VIIG major

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 completely different moods depending on where you rest. You hear it across pop ballads, minor-key folk songs, Beethoven's Für Elise, and Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier. Learning it well is the foundation for every other minor scale you will encounter.

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.

Start scale ear training