The Natural Minor Scale

Since we've already covered the major scale, I thought it'd be fitting to introduce the natural minor scale which is related to the major scale.

The pattern for the natural minor scale is

W, H, W, W, H, W, W

W=Whole step= tone= 2 frets
H= Half Step= semitone= 1 fret

To find the related natural minor to any major scale then you use the same notes of the major scale but starting from the 6th degree, on the major scale, as the minor scale root

C major scale

1. C
2. D
3. E
4. F
5. G
6. A
7. B
8. C

is related to the Natural A minor scale

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
6. F
7. G
8. A

Try applying this pattern to every key and jam on!

Chord Construction

In my last post I introduced you to the major scale, along with leaving some patterns for others, so I could lead to chord construction. By now, I would hope that you at least tried writing up the major scale in a couple different keys. Its completely fine if you haven't yet but I'd advise to give it a try so you can confirm your understanding. 

Just like scales, chords come in many different shapes, sizes, and patterns. One of the most basic chord patterns is that of the major chord which is 1-3-5. What does the 1-3-5 mean? Those are just scale degrees(a scale degree is the name given to a particular note of a scale to specify its position relative to the tonic). Sometimes scale degrees are repeated in 2 octaves so we can add 9ths and 13ths among others.

The names of the Scale Degrees are:

1. Tonic
2. Supertonic
3. Mediant
4. Subdominant
5. Dominant
6. Submediant
7. Leading Tone

We already learned the scale degrees of the C major scale so let's apply this major chord pattern to the C Major scale.

1. C= Tonic(root)
2. D= Supertonic
3. E= Mediant
4. F= Subdominant
5. G= Dominant
6. A= Submediant
7. B= Leading Tone
8. C= Tonic( You repeat if you're going to add another octave)

If we apply the 1-3-5 pattern to the C mjor scale, we are given the notes C,E, and G. So now we'll look at the shape of a C major chord and dissect the notes the comprises the chord.

This is the C chord in it's open string position(there are many different places to play a C chord which would be playing the same tone at a higher or lower octave, depending on the position). As you probably noticed, the only notes within the C Major chord are the ones we've deduced by using the major chord pattern with it's relative scale(C major scale).

We can use this same chord pattern with it's relative scale in any key. Let's try finding a D major chord using the D major scale. The scale degrees of  D major are

1. D
2. E
3. F#
4. G
5. A
6. B
7. C#
8. D

Using the major chord patter of 1-3-5, we are left with the notes D, F#, and A. Here is the open string position for the D chord and as you can see, it only uses the notes we've just taken from the D major scale.

Here is a few of the most basic chords to learn in their open string positions. Practice each of these chords until they sound clean and transitions between the chords are fluent. The best way to practice is to play slowly and accurately. If the chords are sounding funny then play every individual string while holding the chord until you find what note you were hitting wrong and fix that note.

I hope this quick reference guide will help you along the way to finding new chords.

The Major Scale

A scale is a collection of notes, selected from the full set of notes in an octave. The choice of notes in the scale provides the structure on which a piece of music is built.

We have already been introduced to the Chromatic scale which is rarely used as the basis for a piece of music because it excludes no notes and provides no structure. The importance of the Chromatic scale is that it defines the full set of notes in music, from which all other scales are built.

A scale type is defined by the pattern of intervals between its notes. This gives each scale their unique sound.There are many different types of scales which we'll explore in detail later. We'll start by learning the most common scale in western music... The Major Scale!


There are seven notes in the major scale and seven intervals between them.The notes of the major scale make the famous do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do sound when played in sequence. The root note(first note in a scale which is also known as the Tonic) determines the key of the scale. This is the pattern used to make the major scale.


Major Scale: R, W, W, H, W, W, W, H

R= root note
H= Half step/semitone= 1 fret
W= Whole step/tone= 2 frets
1 1/2= 3 frets (some scales use 1 1/2 intervals)


Using the Chromatic scale we can extract every scale as long as we use the scale pattern. For the sake of simplicity, we will start with the C Major scale(C Ionian)

C, C♯, D, D♯, E, F, F♯, G, G♯, A, A♯, B, C


Since C is our root, we will count intervals according to the pattern starting from C. Our root is followed by a whole step so we count two on the chromatic scale from C. This gives us our first two notes of the scale which are C and D.

Next in the pattern is another whole step so now we count two after our last note. Now starting from D we add a whole step which leads us to E. We now have three notes in the scale which are C, D, and E.

We've reach our first half step, so instead of counting two we will just move over once in the scale. Directly following E is F which is our 4th note in the scale.

After F there is another whole step so we'll count two on the chromatic scale from F. We have five notes in the scale which are C, D, E, F, and G.

You repeat this process until you return to the root note. By the end you should end up with the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, B, and C to make up the entire C major scale(C Ionian).  I'd suggest trying this pattern with every root possible to get the major scale in every key(don't forget about accidentals!). Refer to the chromatic scale for an easier time.

Below is the tablature, Tabs, for the C Major



Key of C: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C


E-0-1-3-5-7-8-10-12-

B-0-1-3-5-6-8-10-12-

G-0-2-4-5-7-9-10-12-

D-0-2-3-5-7-9-10-12-

A-0-2-3-5-7-8-10-12-

E-0-1-3-5-7-8-10-12-


E-----------------------------0-1-3-

B-----------------------0-1-3-------

G-------------------0-2-------------

D-------------0-2-3-----------------

A-------0-2-3-----------------------

E-0-1-3-----------------------------


E----------------------------3-5-

B-----------------------3-5-6----

G-----------------2-4-5----------

D-----------2-3-5----------------

A-----2-3-5----------------------

E-3-5-----------------------------


E-----------------------------5-7-8-

B-----------------------5-6-8-------

G-----------------4-5-7-------------

D-------------5-7-------------------

A-------5-7-8-----------------------

E-5-7-8-----------------------------


E----------------------------------7-8-10-

B-----------------------------8-10--------

G----------------------7-9-10-------------

D---------------7-9-10--------------------

A--------7-8-10---------------------------

E-7-8-10----------------------------------


E-----------------------------------------10-12-13-

B--------------------------------10-12-13----------

G------------------------9-10-12-------------------

D----------------9-10-12---------------------------

A----------10-12-----------------------------------

E-10-12-13-----------------------------------------

The Chromatic Scale

The chromatic scale is a musical scale with twelve pitches, each a semitone above or below another. On a modern piano or other equal-tempered instrument, all the semitones are the same size (100 cents). In other words, the notes of an equal-tempered chromatic scale are equally spaced.

All 12 notes of a chromatic scale makes up an octave(a tone on the eighth degree from a given tone.)
As you probably noticed, you add a sharp(#) when ascending in a scale and a flat(b) when descending.

To help you understand what an octave is just play an open string and then the 12th fret on the same  string. You'll hear the same tone but at a higher pitch.