Today we are going to learn how to play one-octave Natural Minor scales. There are also the more common Two-octave natural minor scales, but in this guitar lesson I’m going to teach you HOW and WHY the one-octave Natural Minor scales are just as important.

Why You Want to Learn One Octave Natural Minor Scales

The one-octave scales are the smaller components of the two-octave scales. Their compact structure and shape makes them easier to play, memorize and comprehend.

Once you get them under your fingers you can combine the patterns to create the two octave and three-octave scales and other wild variations.

Moreover the natural minor scale is the perfect scale to combine with the minor pentatonic / blues scale to add some melodic flavor to your blues and rock soloing.

And last but not least, they give you a better insight in how those scales are constructed and how to easily move them all across the fretboard.

Note: This post is part of a free series where you will learn one-octave natural minor scale shapes across the entire guitar neck that will help you understand and own the natural minor scale landscape.

If you prefer the one-octave “Major Scale” series you can check it out here: Effective One-Octave Major Scales and Why!

Starting from the Root Note on the Low E-string 

Today we’re start learning three natural minor scale shape/patterns with the first (root)note starting on the Low E-string (6th string).

Tip: For this lesson learn and memorize the notes on the low E-string to recognize the notes the key of the scale when you want to move the scale up or down the fretboard.

Natural Minor Scale Shape Fingering

I’ve notated the left hand fingering (right hand players) for all the scale shape / patterns below.

The numbers in the yellow neck diagrams indicate the fingers. The neck diagrams also clearly show what the shape or pattern looks like. Learn to visualize and memorize the shape of each pattern.

1 = index
2 = middle finger
3 = ring finger
4 = pinky

Alternative Picking

Practice the scale shapes using alternative picking. Hold the pick between your thumb and index finger with the pointed end facing toward the strings. Strictly use alternating down and up strokes. The first note you play is a downstroke, the second an upstroke, the third one a downstroke, the fourth one an upstroke and so on.

Key of the Scale

In the examples below we play the A natural minor scale, but it’s the goal to learn these scale shapes/patterns in every key. 

Enjoy your practice!

NATURAL MINOR SCALE SHAPES – ROOT NOTE STARTS FROM THE 6TH STRING

A NATURAL MINOR SCALE SHAPE / PATTERN #1

First learn and memorize A natural minor scale pattern #1. Once you got the scale under your fingers learn the pattern in different keys. Move up the entire scale shape 2 frets higher (that means every note of the scale) and play it again. Your first (root) note should now be starting on the 7th fret Low E-string. You are now playing a B natural minor scale. Now play the scale starting with the first (root) note on the 10th fret. You’re playing a D natural minor scale. Practice moving and playing your scale pattern everywhere on the neck.

A NATURAL MINOR SCALE SHAPE / PATTERN #2

Natural minor scale pattern #2 needs a bit of a stretch, but after some practice it gets easier. I promise. This one is good for developing flexibility, and learning 3-notes-per string licks. Again, when you get this scale under your fingers learn to play it in different keys. Moving the scale pattern higher up the neck makes it easier to play, because the spaces between the frets get smaller.

A NATURAL MINOR SCALE SHAPE / PATTERN #3

Pattern #3 is the most common played natural minor scale pattern, because of the comfortable shape and root position. Learn and memorize the scale shape/pattern and then play it in different keys around the neck. 

Assignments:

• Learn to play each scale shape /pattern ascending and descending using alternate picking.
• Don’t rush, make sure each notes sound clean and clear.
• Learn to play the scale shapes in different keys and be sure to know in what key you are playing.
• Play the scale along with a metronome in different tempos.
• Try to create some melody with each scale shape. Experiment with playing notes from the scale in a different order, use rhythm and different note lengths, and pauses. Try to come up with your own melody or play an existing melody you already know. Play around with the notes. It’s such a valuable lesson. Dare to experiment!

Have a great time!

P.S. In Powerful One-Octave Natural Minor Scales Part II we’re going to learn one-octave Natural Minor scales starting on the A-string. We’re going to master the entire fingerboard. Come on board!

Leave a comment below anytime. I really appreciate it. ~Klaus Crow

Practicing speed building exercises on your guitar will improve your technique tremendously. The speed exercises will not just make you play faster, but also your dexterity will advance. Dexterity will create flow, easiness and flexibility on all fronts of your guitar playing.

When you practice the exercises for a while you will find that your fingers will feel lighter and move more fluently across the strings and fretboard as you solo or switch between chords. Guitar playing becomes more effortless.

The exercises in this post all have their own challenges that will develop and improve different parts of your technique. Exercise #1 and #5 are your typical 3 notes-per-string super fast lick that sound really awesome once you get them up to speed, but they’re just as nice to practice slowly or at mid tempo, exercise #4 is a nice blues lick, and others will serve different purposes to enhance your skills. Just try each one of them and explore.

Take it easy, take your time, and as always, enjoy the process!

SPEED BUILDING EXERCISE #1 ( A minor )

Below is a nice fast A minor lick scale run that you can play over an A minor chord or harmony / progression (Am – Bdim – C – D – Em – F – G – Am). Start slow, play every single note clean and clear and only increase your speed when you feel comfortable playing at a slow tempo.

SPEED BUILDING EXERCISE #2 ( E minor )

The E minor lick below can be played over an E minor chord or harmony / chord progression (Em – F#dim – G – A – Bm – C – D – Em). The upstroke on the high e-string can be tricky, that’s why it’s so important to practice this lick in a loop on repeat. Practice the lick in different positions on the neck. Move the entire lick 5 frets up or 5 frets down. Feel the difference as you go up or down the fingerboard, and overcome the challenges that come with it.

SPEED BUILDING EXERCISE #3 ( D major )

This D major lick can be played over a D major chord or harmony / chord progression in the key of D ( D – Em – F#m – G – A – Bm – C#dim – D). I will repeat this over and over again: Start slow and make sure the notes keep sounding neat, clean, clear and tidy as you increase speed.

SPEED BUILDING EXERCISE #4 ( A Blues )

The sweet nice blues lick can be played over a A blues shuffle or A blues chord progression. For more awesome blues licks check out 50CoolBluesLicks.com

SPEED BUILDING EXERCISE #5 ( B Phrygian / G major )

The following speed monster lick can be played over a Bm7 chord or a B Phrygian chord harmony / progression (Bm7 – Cmaj7 – D7 – Em7 – F#m7b5 – Gmaj7 – Am7 – Bm7).

SPEED BUILDING EXERCISE #6

Many riffs, chops and monster licks start right from the Lower E-string. Starting a speed lick from 6th string can be a tough thing, because your picking hand can’t get support from an upper string (there are no strings above the 6th string), so you got to find that support somewhere else depending on your picking technique. You got to be spot on right away to nail that riff. The exercise below will help you to overcome that obstacle.

SPEED BUILDING EXERCISE #7

The lick below contains 3 bars (measures 1 till 3) and goes ascending from the Low E-string all the way up to the high e-string. In the next 3 bars (measures 4 till 6) the same lick will move up 1 fret and now goes descending from the high e-string all the way down to the low E-string. Then it moves up again 1 fret and goes ascending again (measures 7 till 9). This repeats on and on until you can’t go further on the guitar neck. A beautiful 3 notes-per-string guitar workout to exercise your guitar speed.

GUITAR SPEED BUILDING TIPS

• Practice, memorize and play the exercise with focus and dedication.
• Practice the exercises with alternate picking technique. (down-up-down-up). Start each exercise with a down stroke.
• Practice with a metronome. Start slowly and gradually increase your speed.
• Don’t rush. Always start slow and make sure as you slowly increase speed the notes always stay clean and clear every step of the way.
• Play the lick slow a couple of times until you feel comfortable with the tempo, then speed up, play slow again, speed up again, go faster, go all the way slow again, go like a rocket but keep it clean and clear.
• Don’t just randomly play, but focus on your picking technique, on your right hand and left hand. Observe your playing. Where can you do better? How do you hold your pick? What happens when you change the way you hold your pick? Do you play neat or sloppy? Make small improvements every time.
• Don’t strain your shoulders, your arms or your wrist. Release any tension or tightness and try to relax while practicing.
• Practice the exercises daily, don’t get frustrated, it’s a process of two steps forward and one step back. Be patient, fast playing takes time, dexterity will come sooner. Practice the exercises and it will pay off!

Rock on!

I loved their music instantly. What was there not to love? All the songs had catchy guitar riffs and Bruce Dickinson’s voice was superb.

Years later when I went to high school I got to know some dudes that were into death metal. The genre was something I had to get accustomed to. To be honest, it really had to grow on me, but there was something that fascinated me and I was drawn to it.

The degree of loudness in the music was introduced to me backwards. Starting with Slayer and Obituary and followed by more popular bands like Metallica and Megadeth.

I got hooked and started listening to a lot of different metal bands and styles. I also started transcribing and playing a lot of metal on my guitar. My favorite metal bands became Sepultura, Death, Slayer, Pantera and of course Metallica and Megadeth.

I was hypnotized by Max Cavalera’s (Sepultura) heavy and diverse rhythm guitar parts, Marty Friedman’s (Megadeth) melodic speed soloing and Dimebag’s (Pantera) crazy wild bombastic riffs. There was so much creativity going on in all of these guitar players. An endless source of inspiration.

While these days I listen more to music that is totally the opposite like Ryan Adams and Damien Rice, I still get totally lost in the music whenever I put on a metal track.

There is so much to learn from listening and playing metal. If you want to learn about amazing rhythm, riffing and technique then metal is where you need to be. I developed a real sense of rhythmic feel and technique by listening and practicing all those bands.

So I decided to create a list with 50 of the best metal songs of all times.

The list below is in no particular order and incomplete, but it’s here to inspire you and to get to know some awesome metal songs, riffs, solos and bands you might not have heard of or just to refresh your memory of songs you haven’t heard in quite a while. There are also more songs from each band that are just as awesome but I tried to put in as much diversity as possible.

Take your guitar out of the stand, plug it in and learn to play some of the best metal songs ever!

Tip: Click on the song title to listen to the song and click on “Tab” to find the official guitar tablature.

Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Enjoy!

1 – Master of puppets – Metallica – Tab

2 – Hallowed by the name – Iron Maiden

3 – Ace of spades – Motorhead – Tab

4 – Hangar 18 – Megadeth – Tab

5 – Angel of death – Slayer – Tab

6 – Painkiller – Judas Priest

7 – Paranoid – Black Sabbath – Tab

8 – Holy Diver – Dio – Tab

9 – Cemetery Gates – Pantera – Tab

10 – Rime of the ancient mariner – Iron Maiden

11 – One – Metallica – Tab

12 – Dead Embryonic cells – Sepultura – Tab

13 – Caught in a mosh – Anthrax – Tab

14 – Crazy train – Ozzy Osbourne – Tab

15 – Electric eye – Judas Priest – Tab

16 – Black metal – Venom

17 – Freezing moon – Mayhem

18 – Chop Suey! – System Of A Down – Tab

19 – Walk – Pantera – Tab

20 – The trooper – Iron Maiden – Tab

21 – Symphonie of destruction – Megadeth – Tab

22 – Territory – Sepultura

23 – Iron man – Black Sabbath – Tab

24 – Eagle fly free – Helloween

25 – Am I evil – Diamond head – Tab

26 – Chopped in half – Obituary

27 – Babylon – Soulfly

28 – Surfacing – Slipknot – Tab

29 – Eyes Of A Stranger – Queensryche – Tab

30 – Crystal mountain – Death

31 – Du hast – Rammstein – Tab

32 – Got the life – Korn – Tab

33 – Evil – Mercyful Fate

34 – Them bones – Alice in chains – Tab

35 – My Generation – Limp Bizkit – Tab

36 – Blackwater Park – Opeth

37 – The beautiful people – Marilyn Manson – Tab

38 – Kings of metal – Manowar

39 – Heartwork – Carcass

40 – Chapel of ghouls – Morbid angel

41 – Over the wall – Testament

42 – Demanufacture – Fear Factory – Tab

43 – Hammer smashed face – Cannibal Corpse – Tab

44 – Balls to the wall – Accept

45 – Scum – Napalm death

46 – Lateralus – Tool

47 – The count of Tuscany – Dream theater – Tab

48 – Imperium – Machine head

49 – Dead But Dreaming – Deceide

50 – Punishment – Biohazard

So what’s your favorite metal song?

Please share in the comments.