Guitar scale
C Natural Minor (Aeolian) Guitar Scale
C Natural Minor (Aeolian) is a seven-note scale built from C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, and Bb. It is the 6th relative mode of Eb major. It is also commonly called C Aeolian. Use it to study the scale's notes, interval formula, and guitar fretboard positions.
- Notes
- C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb
- Formula
- 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
- Semitones
- 0 2 3 5 7 8 10
- Parent scale
- Eb major
- Also called
- C Aeolian
How to read this scale
The notes are shown as pitch classes first. Square markers representC root notes in the fretboard view, while circular markers represent the other notes in the scale.
Use the interactive fretboard to locate the C root notes and connect the remaining natural minor (aeolian) tones across standard tuning.
This same note pattern is also commonly called C Aeolian.
Sound and defining tones
C natural minor gets its minor quality and darker upper register from b3 (Eb), b6 (Ab), and b7 (Bb). Unlike harmonic minor, its flat seventh does not function as a leading tone into C.
- Characteristic tones
- b3Ebb6Abb7Bb
Fretboard diagram
Open this scale in the fretboard tool
Start with C Natural Minor (Aeolian) loaded, then adjust tuning, labels, colors, fret count, and orientation.
Open in interactive fretboardCommon chords and contexts
Use C natural minor for diatonic minor-key harmony when the chords come from the unaltered Aeolian note set. A major or dominant V chord usually requires raising the seventh instead.
- Use C natural minor over C minor, Cm7, and minor-key progressions.
- It is the standard minor scale sound and the 6th mode of its relative major scale.
Practice this scale on guitar
- Play C Natural Minor (Aeolian) from one C root to the next in at least two fretboard positions, saying each note name and scale degree aloud.
- Sequence b3 (Eb), b6 (Ab), and b7 (Bb) against the root and fifth, listening to how the flat sixth and flat seventh reinforce the natural-minor color.
- Practice over a progression moving from Cm to flat-VI to flat-VII, targeting a chord tone each time the harmony changes.