C Natural Minor Scale Aeolian mode

The notes of the C natural minor scale are C · D · E♭ · F · G · A♭ · B♭. Starts on the 6th degree of its relative major — the sound of sad, moody melodies.

Notes and scale degrees

C
1D
2E♭
b3F
4G
5A♭
b6B♭
b7

Relative major: E♭ major. Pentatonic: C minor pentatonic · blues scale

Fretboard diagram (frets 0–24)

Filled blue = root (C), white = scale notes. The top line is the 1st (high E) string. On a narrow screen, swipe the fretboard sideways. Above the 12th fret the same pattern repeats an octave higher.

C natural minor scale on the guitar fretboard, frets 0–12 — notes C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ — All on one image — long-press (or right-click) to save it.

Chords in this scale

Degree	Chord	Type
i	Cm	minor
ii°	Ddim	diminished
III	E♭	major
iv	Fm	minor
v	Gm	minor
VI	A♭	major
VII	B♭	major

Other C scales

C Major Scale C Natural Minor Scale C Major Pentatonic Scale C Minor Pentatonic Scale C Blues Scale C Dorian Mode C Phrygian Mode C Lydian Mode C Mixolydian Mode C Locrian Mode

Natural Minor Scale in other keys

C C♯D E♭E F F♯G A♭A B♭B

FAQ

What notes are in the C natural minor scale?

C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭. As scale degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7.

What chords does the C natural minor scale go with?

Progressions built from its chords — Cm, Ddim, E♭, Fm and so on.

How do I memorize this scale on guitar?

Start from the root (the filled blue dots in the diagram), learn one position's shape first, then move the same shape up 12 frets to play it an octave higher.

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