A Minor Ukulele Scale
Ukulele scale — fretboard diagram
A Minor Scale — Notes and Intervals
The A Minor scale, also known as the Aeolian mode or natural minor, is the standard for expressing melancholy, introspection, and drama. On Ukulele, its notes are A, B, C, D, E, F, G. Its sound is darker and more somber than the major scale, widely used in songwriting to evoke deep emotional narratives and serving as the foundation of traditional minor-key compositions. The diatonic chords of A Minor are Am7, Bm7b5, Cmaj7, Dm7, Em7, Fmaj7, G7. Commonly used in Rock, Pop, Metal, Classical, R&B. Notable players include Metallica, Adele, Beethoven. Use over minor triads, m7, m9 chords. Works across the entire minor key. Avoid over dominant chords that want a leading tone.
Notes: A, B, C, D, E, F, G
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6m, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
Formula: W-H-W-W-H-W-W
Number of notes: 7
Also known as: aeolian
Diatonic Chords
Am7 — Bm7♭5 — Cmaj7 — Dm7 — Em7 — Fmaj7 — G7
How to Play A Minor on Ukulele
On ukulele, find A on the open strings or work through the scale within a four-fret span. You may need to shift positions once to cover all 7 notes. Practice each position separately before linking them together.
The A Minor scale uses no sharps or flats, consisting entirely of natural notes. Its relative major is C major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Practice the A Minor scale by playing it ascending with one rhythmic feel (straight eighth notes) and descending with another (swing or triplets) at 80 BPM. This dual approach trains both technical accuracy and rhythmic versatility with the 7 notes of the scale.
Try these progressions with the A Minor scale: Am7 - Dm7 - Em7 - Am7 (I-IV-V-I) or Am7 - Bm7b5 - Dm7 - Em7 for a more stepwise movement.
Ukulele Tips
On ukulele, the A Minor scale sounds particularly charming when played as a melodic pattern over fingerpicked chord shapes. Try integrating scale tones into your strumming patterns for a more sophisticated sound.
The A Minor scale contains 7 notes (A, B, C, D, E, F, G). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Ukulele with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for A Minor
The A Minor scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore A Minor Further
- Harmonize the A Minor scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- A Minor on Guitar
- A Minor on Bass
- A Minor on Piano