A Minor Scale
The A minor scale (also called A natural minor or A Aeolian) contains A – B – C – D – E – F – G. Its key signature has no sharps or flats.
| Note | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Piano fingering for one octave going up; 1 is the thumb. Coming down, play the same fingers in reverse.
A minor scale fingering
Right hand, going up: the thumb tucks under to D. Left hand, going up: finger 3 crosses over the thumb to F. Practise each hand alone, slowly, until the turns are smooth, then play hands together.
Key signature
A minor has no sharps or flats. Its relative major is C major, which uses the same notes and key signature. See the chords in the key of A minor and of C major.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Semitones from A |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | 0 |
| 2 | B | 2 |
| b3 | C | 3 |
| 4 | D | 5 |
| 5 | E | 7 |
| b6 | F | 8 |
| b7 | G | 10 |
Step pattern
The Natural Minor scale is built from the pattern W – H – W – W – H – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). Apply that pattern from any starting note and you get the same mode in a different key.
Chords in A Natural Minor
Building a triad on each degree of the scale gives you the chords that belong to it. These are the chords to reach for when writing in A Natural Minor.
Other modes on A
More scales on A
Natural Minor scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the A Natural Minor scale?
The A Natural Minor scale contains A, B, C, D, E, F, G, then returns to A an octave higher.
What is the fingering for the A minor scale on piano?
Going up from A to A, the right hand plays 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 and the left hand plays 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1, where 1 is the thumb. Coming down, use the same fingers in reverse.
How many sharps or flats are in A minor?
A minor has no sharps or flats.
What is the step pattern of the Natural Minor scale?
The Natural Minor scale follows the whole/half step pattern W – H – W – W – H – W – W, where W is a whole step (two semitones) and H is a half step (one semitone).
Which chords work with the A Natural Minor scale?
The diatonic chords are Am, Bdim, C, Dm, Em, F, G. Each is built only from notes of the A Natural Minor scale, so they all belong to the same tonality — though the diminished chord carries a tritone and normally wants to resolve.