A natural minor scale on cavaquinho

The A natural minor scale has 7 notes: A B C D E F G (A, B, C, D, E, F, and G).

A 1
B 2
C ♭3
D 4
E 5
F ♭6
G ♭7

BPM

Rhythm Metronome

A natural minor scale on cavaquinho: the whole fretboard with the notes A, B, C, D, E, F, G, from fret 0 to 17

Whole neck: every note of the scale up to fret 17. The root (A) is highlighted.

Positions as text

Position 7 (frets 5 to 9), from the lowest note to the highest:

string 4: 5 (G), 7 (A), 9 (B)
string 3: 5 (C), 7 (D), 9 (E)
string 2: 6 (F), 8 (G)
string 1: 7 (A), 9 (B)

Position 1 (frets 7 to 10), from the lowest note to the highest:

string 4: 7 (A), 9 (B), 10 (C)
string 3: 7 (D), 9 (E), 10 (F)
string 2: 8 (G), 10 (A)
string 1: 9 (B), 10 (C)

Position 2 (frets 9 to 13), from the lowest note to the highest:

string 4: 9 (B), 10 (C), 12 (D)
string 3: 9 (E), 10 (F), 12 (G)
string 2: 10 (A), 12 (B), 13 (C)
string 1: 12 (D)

Position 3 (frets 10 to 14), from the lowest note to the highest:

string 4: 10 (C), 12 (D), 14 (E)
string 3: 10 (F), 12 (G), 14 (A)
string 2: 12 (B), 13 (C)
string 1: 12 (D), 14 (E)

Position 4 (frets 12 to 16), from the lowest note to the highest:

string 4: 12 (D), 14 (E), 15 (F)
string 3: 12 (G), 14 (A), 16 (B)
string 2: 13 (C), 15 (D)
string 1: 14 (E), 15 (F)

Position 5 (frets 14 to 17), from the lowest note to the highest:

string 4: 14 (E), 15 (F), 17 (G)
string 3: 14 (A), 16 (B), 17 (C)
string 2: 15 (D), 17 (E)
string 1: 15 (F), 17 (G)

Position 6 (frets 14 to 17), from the lowest note to the highest:

string 4: 15 (F), 17 (G)
string 3: 14 (A), 16 (B), 17 (C)
string 2: 15 (D), 17 (E)
string 1: 15 (F), 17 (G)

Fretboard positions

Each position fits within 5 frets, with 2 to 3 notes per string, and starts on a scale note on the lowest string. Position 1 starts on the root (A).

On the cavaquinho the strings sit close together in pitch, and the 3-notes-per-string shape from the guitar would turn into a 7-fret stretch. That is why each position here fits within 5 frets.

Use Degrees to see the role of each note (1 is the root) and Listen to hear the selected position going up and down.

Formula

Degrees: 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · ♭7. Steps: W – H – W – W – H – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).

About the natural minor scale

The "pure" minor scale (Aeolian mode). Sad or introspective; it is the relative of the major scale a minor third above.

Harmonized scale (chords in the key)

The chords that come from the scale, stacking thirds from each note.

Degree	Triad	Seventh chord	Function
Im	Am	Am7	tonic
II°	B°	Bm7(b5)	subdominant
III	C	C7M	tonic
IVm	Dm	Dm7	subdominant
Vm	Em	Em7	dominant
VI	F	F7M	subdominant
VII	G	G7	dominant

Scales with the same notes

Relative major: C major scale . Same notes, different center.

More A scales

Natural minor in other keys

Frequently asked questions

What are the notes of the A natural minor scale?

The notes of the A natural minor scale are A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. The root, degree 1, is A.

What is the formula of the A natural minor scale?

In degrees: 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · ♭7. In steps between the notes: W – H – W – W – H – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step).

How do you play the A natural minor scale on cavaquinho?

Each position fits within 5 frets, with 2 to 3 notes per string, and starts on a scale note on the lowest string. Position 1 starts on the root (A). There are 7 positions on cavaquinho, each with the full fingering.

Which chords belong to the A natural minor scale?

The chords of the harmonized scale are: Am, B°, C, Dm, Em, F, G.

On other instruments

All scales on cavaquinho