Basic Scales 4

The Natural minor Scale

The natural minor scale is the first of our minor scales and is one of the darker sounding scales we can choose. A lot of minor key ballads and dark sounding rock and metal tunes use the Natural minor scale. It can be used to sound quite menacing but also, to evoke sadness or melancholy.

The formula for this scale is:

R – 2 – b3 – 4 – 5 – b6 – b7

In the key of C

In the key of G

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Check the guitar riff at 0:29 from Ozzy’s ‘Crazy Train’ for a great example of the Natural minor scale in action.

Crazy Train

(This is the guitar riff, but you could play a long with it on the bass, just to get the sound under your hands. Just read the tab as though it was played on the lowest 2 strings of your bass.)

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The Kaiser chiefs smash out a riff that uses the natural minor scale at the opening of ‘I Predict a Riot’

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Here, the riff is played all on one string – it sounds sloppy and quite ragged, sliding up and down the string to get to the notes. Great for this sort of indie rock vibe.

I Predict a Riot

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Here’s the same riff played in position, so you can see how it relates to the scale shape more easily…

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The beautiful fretless melody that Jaco plays at 0:42 is a great example of how poignant and beautiful the natural minor scale can sound.

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A Remark You Made

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