Music Theory For Guitar | 2 | Minor Scales
Added 2020-06-02 00:24:35 +0000 UTCWhere to Start • Lesson Archive • Recommended Lesson Plan • Book a Private Lesson
This is the second installment of my Music Theory For Guitar course. This lesson covers how minor scales are made and how the major and minor scale are related - crucial fundamental concepts in music theory. From here we'll keep building fundamental music theory concepts!
Have a question? Ask on the weekly live Q&A, called Office Hours. Also, check out Practice Thoughts if you need help figuring out how to practice.
Here is the practice section for this lesson:
Check out the community forum post about this specific lesson to ask questions, post pictures or audio, or to see what other people are saying about this lesson.
Lessons in this Series:
Music Theory for Guitar | 1 | Major Scales
Music Theory for Guitar | 2 | Minor Scales (current lesson)
Music Theory for Guitar | 3 | Intervals
Music Theory for Guitar | 4 | Circle of Fifths
Music Theory for Guitar | 5 | Major Triads
Music Theory for Guitar | 6 | Minor Triads
Music Theory for Guitar | 7 | Diminished & Augmented Triads
Once you're done with this series, you'll know enough to move on to:
Music Theory Monday & CAGED System Basics
Other helpful links:
Scott's Recommended Lesson Plan
Searchable Lesson Archive
How to Join the Community Forum
Scott's Jam Tracks
Scott's Main YouTube Channel
Comments
Hazaldo - I don't know how I missed this comment for so long - yes, these concepts apply to any instrument in any tuning, but the fingering will be different
Scott Paul Johnson
2025-07-16 18:53:21 +0000 UTCSwitching from major to minor in the middle of a song is not uncommon! There are many great Spanish guitar composers who wrote pieces that switch from Major to Minor for each section of the song.
Scott Paul Johnson
2025-07-16 18:51:29 +0000 UTCNevil - sorry I didn't see your comment from so long ago! The PDFs are all attached at the bottom of each post. There is an "Attachments" heading with the title of each PDF below
Scott Paul Johnson
2025-07-16 18:50:19 +0000 UTCWhere are the pdfs?
Nevil Thomas
2024-10-12 12:26:08 +0000 UTCRegarding 23:12, how would one actually go about switching from a major to a minor scale in the middle of a song? I believe that would add some emotional complexity to a solo for example.
Jeffrey
2024-02-28 00:15:48 +0000 UTCThe pdf isn’t working
Ethan
2024-01-07 02:56:18 +0000 UTCHey, really enjoying this course so far. One question I had — how important do you think it is to be cognizant of the whole and half step patterns as you play the shapes for each scale — versus just remembering the shapes. Just remembering and repeating the shapes I can play pretty quickly but if I instead try to just visualize the pattern of whole and half steps on the fretboard and across the strings it obviously gets a lot more challenging. Is it necessary to try to get used to this in practicing? Or should I just focus on memorizing and playing the various shapes? Thanks, very much looking forward to continuing the course
Joe
2023-12-31 00:46:43 +0000 UTCwow amazing!
Killian Maduro
2023-12-01 17:42:08 +0000 UTCdo these concepts apply to a drop d tuning as well for example?A
Hazaldo _107
2023-11-16 13:52:42 +0000 UTCYes, you can convert a minor scale to a major scale by sharping the 3rd, 6th, and 7th and vise a versa
Scott Paul Johnson
2023-10-17 15:59:32 +0000 UTCIm also wondering if you can convert non relative minor scales into a major scale by sharping the 3rd, 6th, and 7th as well? does it work the same way but in reverse?
Treven
2023-10-17 05:18:20 +0000 UTCI also had a quick question about converting a major to a minor when they aren't relative. Im not sure how relevant it is but when we flat the 3rd, 6th, and 7th, what if the note is a flat? Say it was a B flat, would it get sent back a half step to a A? or would we keep it a B flat. Again I don't know if we would ever see that in a specific scale or not but Im just curious. Thanks!
Treven
2023-10-17 05:02:40 +0000 UTCI am so lucky to have found your Patreon! Im finally understanding! Thanks so much for all your hard work and for making it affordable!
Treven
2023-10-16 23:39:30 +0000 UTCHi Scott was going through the minor theory for guitar: Minor Scale practice lesson #2 and it seems to me that the shape names are written incorrectly on the chart if they're to be related to the CAGED chords. From the top down as indicated on the chart shouldn't it be A minor shape (A minor scale); G minor shape (A minor Scale); E minor shape (A minor Scale); D minor shape (A minor Scale); C minor shape (A minor Scale) if you starting from the Am open chord position? I'm a bit confused with that. Am I missing something? Also I recently decided to sign up and give it a try after checking out some of your youtube lessons. Came here in hopes of finding more structure and extras and that I found! I'm studying elsewhere as well but decided to add this to supplement my studies. Looking forward to learning all that I can from you as well.
J.Rod
2023-05-28 06:12:52 +0000 UTCThey are at the bottom of the page, before the comments section starts
Scott Paul Johnson
2023-05-20 16:08:07 +0000 UTCWhere are PDF downloads?
Dave rozewski
2023-05-19 22:19:31 +0000 UTCI have a hard time trying to learn all the different scales and file them away in my brain but these videos with the handouts showing it visually on paper has helped me out a ton. Thanks for the great lessons!
Shane Childers
2022-10-05 05:28:06 +0000 UTCKeep moving through the series! It will all start to make sense!
Scott Paul Johnson
2022-08-17 17:55:04 +0000 UTCOnce I learn these 2 major and minor scales what's next with them? Should I just keep moving in order of the video lessons? and hopefully it will make sense later?
Donnie Marhefka
2022-08-17 02:49:50 +0000 UTCThis is great, very easy to understand and filling (the many 😀) gaps that i have in my understanding!
Mark Riley
2022-08-16 10:45:58 +0000 UTCWhen you're playing a song in A minor, you're using the same notes as in C major, but the points of interest around which the melody evolves are not on the same notes as in C major. In C major the C note is the centre of interest, whereas in A minor everything is centered on the A note.
Timm Delfs
2022-06-17 11:49:26 +0000 UTCIt's all about modes, Tom.
Jared Thompson
2022-03-30 23:28:08 +0000 UTCHi Tom - sorry for the delay. I think you'll start to get some solid answers to these questions as you move into Music Theory Monday. The two scales contain all the same notes. For some reason, people decided that concept is called relative. But you'll start seeing it more clearly when we talk about keys!
Scott Paul Johnson
2022-02-16 00:01:15 +0000 UTCHi Scott, When we talk about relative majors/minors, etc., what does it really mean? How are the relatives used in a song, for instance? Is it important from a music theory standpoint or a practical standpoint, like composing, etc.? I guess what I am asking is when we say "relative", does that mean something deeper than just identifying a minor given a major scale (or vice-versa)? As a complete newbie to music (but I'm learning a lot, thanks to your awesome instruction, btw!), I feel like I am missing something.
Tom Rush
2022-02-14 18:28:33 +0000 UTCThanks Scott, Ive been trying to play classical guitar then acoustic now dabbling in electric for 50 years off and on. Always missing the theory, Im loving it and more importantly understanding it for the first time. Wow. Keep up the good work
Phil Butler
2022-02-10 07:41:29 +0000 UTCBryon! - you'll find it in the "New here? Wondering where to start?" Link. Then, anytime you see a post that says "click here for the community forum" it will take you directly to a specific thread for that video.
Scott Paul Johnson
2022-02-07 18:55:22 +0000 UTCHi Scott! Say, where is the discourse group you mentioned in this video?
Bryon
2022-02-04 23:27:50 +0000 UTCYeah!
Scott Paul Johnson
2022-01-28 16:54:34 +0000 UTCCool trick from my wife (music teacher): Relative minor is always a minor 3rd down from the major root.
Rafael
2022-01-28 16:38:41 +0000 UTCAh! There are two ways to look at it. Every major scale has a relative minor scale, and those two scales share the same notes. For example, B Minor and D Major scales share all the same notes: B w C# h D w E w F# h G w A w B D w E w F# h G w A w B w C# h D But you could also compare D Major and D minor. Compared to D Major, D minor has a flat 3rd, 6th, and 7th D E F# G A B C# D - D MAJOR D E F G A Bb C D - D MINOR So yes, more accurately, I should have said "every major scale has a minor scale made up of the exact same notes" like D Major and B Minor or C Major and A Minor. But if you're turning a major scale INTO a minor scale, then the 3b, b6, and b7 thing applies. It's just two different ways to look at minor scales
Scott Paul Johnson
2022-01-23 16:43:00 +0000 UTCI thought you said the major and the minor scale shared the same notes. Well, then I hear the 3rd 6th and 7th notes of the minor scale are flatted. ,Those aren't the same notes?
Michael Fox
2022-01-23 16:03:27 +0000 UTCThanks. I see them now!
Jason Hatting
2022-01-06 21:49:27 +0000 UTCThey are attached at the bottom of the post, before the comments, right under the test that says "This lesson is part of my Music Theory For Guitar series."
Scott Paul Johnson
2022-01-06 20:55:52 +0000 UTCHi. New here. Where can I find the lesson pdfs?
Jason Hatting
2022-01-06 20:44:35 +0000 UTCAwesome thanks!
Jason Cohen
2021-11-20 20:29:56 +0000 UTCI just added an answer key, Jason. I hope that helps
Scott Paul Johnson
2021-11-20 19:19:10 +0000 UTCGreat idea. I just added it
Scott Paul Johnson
2021-11-20 18:58:13 +0000 UTCHi Scott. Thank you so much for these lessons. I've been playing guitar for decades and now finally feel like I'm understanding it the way I'm supposed to. Is there a minor scale scratch paper link? You have one for Major scales from lesson 1.
Jason Cohen
2021-11-20 17:40:49 +0000 UTCHey! Where did it go? Thanks for pointing that out. If you post your homework to the community forum, I will personally look it over for you (link above AND explanation of how to join in the very very top link)
Scott Paul Johnson
2021-11-02 17:02:24 +0000 UTCIs there an answer key for lesson 2 of the minor scales? Trying to see if Im getting these relatives right.
Jason
2021-11-02 16:55:13 +0000 UTCThanks, Nick Name's wife! I do consider that high praise
Scott Paul Johnson
2021-10-30 20:22:36 +0000 UTCHi Scott. Just wanted to say that my jazz pianist wife thinks you're excellent at explaining theory, and if you have any experience with jazz pianists at all, you know that's rare praise. Thanks.
Nick Name
2021-10-29 17:27:09 +0000 UTCTop ! Thanks
Uben
2021-10-23 18:26:03 +0000 UTCI ended up keeping the E major root but with C# minor root, it was great fun trying to solve it =)
Weeta Wong
2021-10-14 16:27:48 +0000 UTCOooo what did you end up doing? Eb Major is the major Scale that goes with it
Scott Paul Johnson
2021-10-14 16:05:01 +0000 UTCThe last circle with the E major root and "C" minor root got me confused for awhile ;D
Weeta Wong
2021-10-14 15:46:14 +0000 UTCthats so C-O-O-L. my guitar is actually not just a black box... Thanks!
Romain Rouiller
2021-09-09 02:32:12 +0000 UTCHey Michal, you can post links a little easier on the community forum. Watch this video ( https://vimeo.com/471578966 ) then click the link in the description of this video to go to the Community Forum thread for this lesson. Link your video there!
Scott Paul Johnson
2021-09-04 17:43:10 +0000 UTChttps://we.tl/t-DiqIE4hpvB Can someone check if I have any mistakes in my homework? It is a pdf.
Michał S
2021-09-02 23:29:43 +0000 UTCKevin! Awesome question. What you're talking about is "modes." Once you get through Music Theory for Guitar check out Music Theory Monday - I dive into that very concept.
Scott Paul Johnson
2021-09-01 01:03:20 +0000 UTCHey! I've got a video about that! It's called CAGED Basics
Scott Paul Johnson
2021-09-01 01:02:18 +0000 UTCWhy is there only one minor scale for a given major scale? For example, using C major, why isn’t there a D minor2 scale with the formula WHWWWHW, and a E minor3 scale with the formula HWWWHWW, etc?
Kevin Gale
2021-08-31 22:33:45 +0000 UTCcan you do a video on chords moving up and down the fretboard
pizza seven
2021-08-25 14:00:49 +0000 UTCAnd they ARE “high quality lessons”..
Steve DePass
2021-07-06 14:37:06 +0000 UTCEvery scale needs the whole musical alphabet, in order. An F major scale could be F G A Bb C D E F or F G A A# C D E F, but the second one has two As now and no Bs, so it is incorrect
Scott Paul Johnson
2021-07-05 15:28:43 +0000 UTCA note can't be twice in a scale. For example on the E minor scale you have: E, F sharp, G, A, B, C ,D, E. The F sharp is the same note as G flat. On the example of the E minor scale it would make 2 G notes and no F note in it: E, G flat, G, A, B, C, D, E. A scale can't have two of the same notes, so it must be a F sharp. I hope i explain it clearly enough.
Tristan ten Brinke
2021-07-05 15:14:46 +0000 UTCCan you please again explain when it is a sharp or flat note? I watched the first video too but I didnt really catch any clear explanation on it.. Cheers Scott!
Christian Zehrt
2021-06-19 09:52:50 +0000 UTCWhich one? • 1971 Musicmaster guitar - red • 1973 Musicmaster bass - red • 1957 Gibson ES-125tc 3/4 - sunburst • 1943 Martin 0-17 - mahogany brown
Scott Paul Johnson
2021-06-04 21:39:33 +0000 UTCthis is a silly question -- what's the color of that guitar?
Matty
2021-06-04 01:06:44 +0000 UTCI have just joined, been messing about with a 6 string for 30 years, this is the first time I've actually got theory, really well explained and the homework is brilliant.... thank you.
Pauly
2021-05-24 10:50:21 +0000 UTCnice catch! fixed it!
Scott Paul Johnson
2021-04-29 15:07:49 +0000 UTCGreat lessons! On the first play-along, do you mean "Minor Scale Play along"?
Peter Tran
2021-04-29 09:37:25 +0000 UTCdude I really can't over emphasize how helpful these lessons are. with the work sheets and your simple explanation I actually feel like I can get a grasp on basic theory. thank you!
Collin Preston
2021-04-11 19:09:44 +0000 UTCCool, that was quick! And useful! :-)
Sven S
2021-04-09 14:24:22 +0000 UTCcheck this lesson out: https://www.patreon.com/posts/octave-shapes-38380886
Scott Paul Johnson
2021-04-09 13:39:10 +0000 UTCThank you so much! So far (lessons 1 and 2), those have been the clearest musical theory lessons I've ever had! Do you have any advice for memorising the notes on the actual fretboard? Having played for quite some time without much theoretical knowledge, I play by ear, and (apart from the obvious) have little knowledge which note belongs to which fret, so a trick or two for learning that would be useful.
Sven S
2021-04-09 13:01:03 +0000 UTCNice work Scott. The overlapping pattern and circle representations of the major and relatives minor scales really helped lock it in for me.
Jill Thomas
2021-04-02 20:11:01 +0000 UTCA Major Scale is A B C# D E F# G# A A Minor Scale is A B C D E F G A An A Minor Scale is an A Major scale with the third, sixth and seventh notes flatted. This is ONE way to turn a major scale into a minor scale. Another important thing to understand is that every major scale HAPPENS to contain a minor scale (THE relative minor scale for that major scale) Start a Major Scale on it's sixth note and you'll stumble across that scales relative minor. C Major = C D E F G A B C A Minor = A B C D E F G A A Major = A B C# D E F# G# A F# Minor = F# G# A B C# D E F# The major scale is always WWHWWWH The minor scale is always WHWWHWW The formula always makes the scale, there are just a few ways to think about how to acheive that formula
Scott Paul Johnson
2021-03-16 13:19:49 +0000 UTCHi, I am little confused when you show the formula for the minor scale where you used flat notes for three places. Is that same as relative Minor scale? I am asking because in relative minor scale you are changing just the position but in the formula you are changing the notes. Could you please explain?
Rafiq Zaman
2021-03-15 17:43:59 +0000 UTCI'm thinking the same thing. I thought I had a lightbulb moment when I noticed the major shapes correspond to the string started on. But with minors the E shape doesn't start on the E string or an E note as G shape doesn't either
Stuart Cox
2021-01-30 09:53:44 +0000 UTCHi Scott, I've been practicing the C major and A minor scale shaped positions for a few days and I feel pretty confident with them. I was wondering if I should be figuring out the rest of the major/minor scale shaped positions before continuing onto other videos? I'm a little confused on how to figure them the correct way.. do you have any videos of you breaking them all down?
Katelyn Yorgey
2021-01-12 15:05:51 +0000 UTCIt couldn't hurt to memorize them, but you don't HAVE to! There are only five positions where you can play any scale, if thats any comfort. Also, because of the movable nature of guitat scales, if you do memorize every position of an A Minor scale, you've essentially memorized every position of every scale.
Scott Paul Johnson
2021-01-10 16:19:32 +0000 UTCProbably a stupid question but do we have to memorize this (A) minor scale in various positions on the neck ? If I can see the notes like you display them on the screen or if I put the printed paper in front of me then I can play it without a problem.
Andy
2021-01-10 14:18:18 +0000 UTCGood catch! Fixed it and uploaded the revised version. Thank you!
Scott Paul Johnson
2021-01-04 19:07:22 +0000 UTCHi! Thanks for the lesson and the very clear illustrations. Possible typo on page 4 of the PDF it says "Practice playing the C Major scale", should this be "Practice playing the A Minor scale"?
Jeremy Lainé
2021-01-03 19:32:06 +0000 UTCPerfect, thank you!
Patricio Goyeneche
2020-12-18 12:14:37 +0000 UTCHi Patricio. This is a fantastic question and it's one that I see coming up online and seems to vary between different teachers. I think because CAGED is more of an observation than a dogma, there are a few different ways to look at it. I think I need to address this crucial thing and I'll do so in a future lesson.
Scott Paul Johnson
2020-12-18 02:18:38 +0000 UTCHi! I have a question about your practice video and the way you call the different shapes. I believe you use the same shape name for the minor squeme related to the major, for example, if you use the shape who start with pinky finger on the six string, and it calls G shape in the major world, you also name it G shape for the minor world, but, in other places or books i saw this is the E shape for the minor world, because it is related with the chord that you can obtain of this shape. What is the correct way to name it? (I'm spanish speaker, so, excuse me for my bad english). Greetings from Chile!
Patricio Goyeneche
2020-12-17 13:33:04 +0000 UTCThis was a really fun exercise. Things started breaking down for me at about 200bpm, but it was really the first time in years I've actually sat down to practice a scale like this. Thanks for this great exercise!!
Vin Thomas
2020-11-30 00:51:54 +0000 UTCYou mean the Major scale lesson? Yeah I read that one, and it made sense because the letter name of the shape for scale started on corresponding string. For example for A shape C major scale it starts on A string. But it is not the case with these minor scales, so what makes them their corresponding shape?
Evgeny Kasian
2020-09-17 16:33:05 +0000 UTCHey Evgeny go to the first lesson in this section and download the first PDF below
Cohen McMahon
2020-09-17 13:18:03 +0000 UTCIn this lesson as well as in the major scale one when it comes to practice both scales are on 5 shapes the CAGED ones. I haven’t learned about them yet should I watch some video or will it come up later? I have seen that there plenty of practiceCAGED videos but not sure where to start with those in relation to the shapes of these scales. Sorry if I missed something Paul 😊 Thanks for amazing lessons
Evgeny Kasian
2020-09-15 03:51:56 +0000 UTCThere is no B Minor Major Scale. Sometimes people confuse the word “minor” with “flat” - a scale can be minor - a chord can be minor - a single note can not be minor. But a single note can be flat!
Scott Paul Johnson
2020-09-03 15:38:01 +0000 UTCDoes the B Minor Major scale start on B or B flat?
ImDaBoogyman
2020-09-03 15:34:48 +0000 UTCAwesome! Thank you very much!
Maria Gonzalez
2020-08-16 03:13:49 +0000 UTCSo happy I found you
Bridgette Symanski
2020-06-23 17:00:06 +0000 UTCSuch a great teacher Scott!
Shelley Francisco
2020-06-23 05:01:31 +0000 UTCThis is excellent. Definitely the best teacher I've tried so far. Thank you.
Ben Young
2020-06-05 08:22:42 +0000 UTCGreat lesson, thanks Scott. Now I started to understand the "whys" of some mechanical movements I learnt in past.
Victor Parreiral Xavier
2020-06-03 16:46:03 +0000 UTCThank you Scott, the way you present this theory material (that I have been missing for years) is in a shape I can easily digest, understand and practice. Sooooo enjoyable and motivating ! Pure happiness :)
Patrick Vliegen
2020-06-02 16:03:20 +0000 UTCGreat lesson Scott, thank you.
Harley Cole
2020-06-02 13:30:47 +0000 UTCOh! It’s coming! Almost ready.
Scott Paul Johnson
2020-06-02 01:49:14 +0000 UTCWhat’s the name of the Facebook group?
Jed Ullrich
2020-06-02 01:48:47 +0000 UTC
