The notes of the A Minor Scale are A, B, C, D, E, F, G.
The Chords in the A Minor scale are:
| Minor | Dim | Major | Minor | Minor | Major | Major |
| i | iidim | III | iv | v | VI | VII |
| Am | Bdim | C | Dm | Em | F | G |
A Minor Scale – All Across the Neck
You should know where you can play the A Minor scale on your guitar. I have highlighted the 5 positions below where you could play it. Please note that some of these patterns will repeat beyond the 12th fret. Start each scale on the root note.
A Minor Scale – Position 1
This pattern covers two octaves.
A Minor Scale – Position 2
A Minor Scale – Position 3
A Minor Scale – Position 4
A Minor Scale – Position 5
This pattern covers two octaves.
Try the following when playing this scale:
Use a metronome – start very slowly.
Play cleanly – Focus on fingering every note cleanly.
Alternate pick – Alternate between up and down. Play quarter notes and then eighth notes.
Down pick all notes – Play quarter notes and then eighth notes.
Triplets – Alternate pick 3 notes for each beat.
16th notes – Alternate pick 4 notes for each beat.
Fingerpick – Use just your fingers to pick. Thumb plays the top 3 strings, Index, Middle and Ring fingers play the bottom strings respectively. Thumb, index, middle and ring are usually indicated by the initials P, I, M, A.
Alternate Fingerpick – Alternate Index & Middle fingers to play each note of the scale.
Use hammer on’s and pull off’s – Can you play each one without picking?
Speed up – As you feel more comfortable, try to increase the metronome speed.
Turn off metronome – Play the exercises but name each note that you play (without looking at the diagrams). Go as slow as you like.
Name the notes – Play exercises and name only the root notes (without looking at the diagrams).
Different positions – Do all the exercises and picking variations for each position.