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Guitar scales · Natural minor (Aeolian)

F minor scale on guitar

The F minor scale has seven notes: F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D♭ and E♭. As degrees: 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6 and ♭7.

Notes and pattern

The F minor scale

The of a major key: same notes, starting on the 6th degree. Play it to hear it up and down.

From note to note it climbs 2, 1, 2, 2, 1, 2 and 2 : whole, half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole.

F minor has the same notes as A♭ major, starting from F. See that scale.

  1. F1
  2. G2
  3. A♭♭3
  4. B♭4
  5. C5
  6. D♭♭6
  7. E♭♭7
EADGBE0135791215FFFFFFFFFGA♭B♭CD♭E♭GB♭CD♭E♭GA♭B♭CE♭GA♭B♭CD♭E♭GA♭B♭CD♭E♭GA♭B♭CD♭E♭GA♭B♭CD♭GA♭B♭CD♭E♭G
  • F, the root
  • Other scale notes

Positions

F minor in five positions

The splits the neck into five overlapping positions, one per shape. Learn one, then join it to the next.

F minor · the whole neck

Five positions, each overlapping the next, repeating every 12 frets.

GGEEDCAAEADGBE0135791215FFFFFFFFFGA♭B♭CD♭E♭GB♭CD♭E♭GA♭B♭CE♭GA♭B♭CD♭E♭GA♭B♭CD♭E♭GA♭B♭CD♭E♭GA♭B♭CD♭GA♭B♭CD♭E♭G
  • Root (F)
  • Scale tone

Chords

Chords from the F minor scale

Stack every other note of the scale on each degree and you get its chords.

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Hear the chords and progressions in F minor

Same root

Other scales on F

Change a note or two and the same takes on a new mood.

Questions

F minor, in short

What notes are in the F minor scale?
The F minor scale has seven notes: F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D♭ and E♭. As degrees: 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6 and ♭7.
What chords go with the F minor scale?
The chords built on F minor are Fm, G°, A♭, B♭m, Cm, D♭ and E♭.
What is the relative major of F minor?
F minor has the same notes as A♭ major, starting from F.
All guitar scales