A Minor guitar scale for left-handed players: how to play all main positions. Convenient tabs and charts next.
A Minor scale is a note sequence in minor tone with a main root note A. These notes are played in a specific order, going up and down in a pattern.
There are three kinds of minor scales:
- Natural Minor: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and A
- Harmonic Minor: A, B, C, D, E, F, G#, and A
- Melodic Minor: A, B, C, D, E, F#, G#, and A
Scales have many positions and patterns on the guitar fretboard. To better memorize and practice scales divide them into “box” patterns. These patterns are played within 4-5 frets and no more than 3 notes per string.
Next, we will look at the most common “boxes” between 0 and 12th fret. After the 12th fret scale patterns are repeated.
How to Play Left-Handed A Minor Scale
To play A Minor scales on left-handed guitar use the chart below. The symbols indicate on which fret which string to press and which right-hand fingers to use.
Note: The charts below show the basic finger positions. But you may be more comfortable playing a particular scale in a different way. Try, practice and you’ll find the most suitable scheme for you.
To play accurately and quickly, try to play compactly with minimal hand and finger movement.
A Natural Minor Scales Left-Handed
Scale positions are not determined by the fret number as with chords, but by the note at which the pattern begins.
For example, the first position of the A natural minor scale is not played from the first fret of the 6th string, but from the 5th.
For simplicity, I will associate the scale positions with the fret numbers.
Open position:
Start playing the scale with the open 6th string.
On 5th fret:
Start playing the scale with the index finger on the 5th fret of the 6th string.
On 10th fret:
Start playing the scale with the index finger on the 10th fret of the 6th string.
