A♯ Minor Scale (A#)
The A# minor scale (also called A# natural minor or A# Aeolian) contains A# – B# – C# – D# – E# – F# – G#. Its key signature has 7 sharps: F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E# and B#. It uses the same piano keys as Bb minor, spelled Bb – C – Db – Eb – F – Gb – Ab (5 flats).
| Note | A# | B# | C# | D# | E# | F# | G# | A# |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Left hand | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
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 B# and E#. Left hand, going up: finger 3 crosses over the thumb to C# and finger 4 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 7 sharps: F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E# and B#. Its relative major is C# major, which uses the same notes and key signature. See the chords in the key of Bb 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.
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | i | A#m | A# C# E# |
| 2 | ii° | B#dim | B# D# F# |
| 3 | III | C# | C# E# G# |
| 4 | iv | D#m | D# F# A# |
| 5 | v | E#m | E# G# B# |
| 6 | VI | F# | F# A# C# |
| 7 | VII | G# | G# B# D# |
Other modes on Bb (the same keys as A#)
More scales on Bb (the same keys as 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 2 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 and the left hand plays 2 1 3 2 1 4 3 2, where 1 is the thumb. Coming down, use the same fingers in reverse.
How many sharps are in A# minor?
A# minor has 7 sharps: F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E# and B#.
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 A#m, B#dim, C#, D#m, E#m, 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.