How to Play a C Minor Scale on Guitar

The scale is the basis for almost all music. Fortunately, learning how to play a scale can be easy and fun. It also makes learning songs that more exciting. Read on to learn how to play a C minor scale on guitar.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Guitar
• Tuner
• Pick (optional)

1. Before you play, you'll need to tune the guitar. The strings, from high (skinniest) to low, are E, B, G, D, A and E. The easiest way to tune a guitar is to use a tuner that sounds the pitch. You can also do this with a pitch pipe. Set the tuner or the pitch pipe to the note you want to tune. Make the string match this pitch. If the string is too low, turn the corresponding tuning peg to the right. If it's too high, turn it to the left. Tighter strings make higher sound--"righty tighty lefty loosey" applies to the guitar as well.

2. Once the guitar is in tune, decide what type of minor scale you want to play. The three types (discounting "minor" scales derived from certain ethnic musics) are natural, harmonic and melodic minors. Natural minor is actually a mode--it is the same notes as the relative major scale. The relative major of C minor is Eb Major, so the key of C minor is three flats-Bb, Eb and Ab. The tonic (main note-in this case, C) of a minor scale is the sixth note (scale degree) in its relative major key, if you want to find relative majors and minors that way. The harmonic minor is a true tonal scale because it includes a leading tone. This is derived by raising the seventh scale degree of the minor scale by a half step-in the case of C minor, this means you would play a B natural instead of Bb. Melodic minor is the strangest and probably most difficult. Going up the scale, scale degrees six and seven of the minor scale are raised a half step-so in C minor, A and B will be natural on the way up. Coming back down the scale, the scale follows the key signature--so A and B will both be flat again.

3. Play a C on your low A string (the second thickest string). You'll do this by pressing down on the third fret.

4. Play a D on your D string (no fingers down)--you'll move up one string.

5. Play an Eb on your D string by pressing down at the first fret.

6. Play an F on your D string by pressing down at the third fret.

7. Play a G on the G string (open, up one string).

8. If you are playing natural or harmonic minor, play an Ab on the G string by pressing down at the first fret. If you are playing melodic minor, play an A-natural on the G string by pressing down at the second fret.

9. If you are playing natural minor, play a Bb on the G string by pressing down at the third fret. If you are playing harmonic or melodic minor, play a B-natural on the B string (open, up a string).

10. Play a C on the B string by pressing down at the first fret.

11. If you are playing natural or melodic minor, go down a string. Play a Bb on the G string by pressing down at the third fret.If you are playing harmonic minor, play a B-natural on the B string (open).

12. Play an Ab on the G string by pressing down at the first fret (down a string if you are playing harmonic minor).

13. Play a G on the G string (open).

14. Move down a string and play an F on your D string by pressing down at the third fret.

15. Play an Eb on your D string by pressing down at the first fret.

16. Play a D on your D string (open).

17. Move down a string and play a C on your low A string by pressing down on the third fret.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful not to tighten your strings too far because they might break.