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A Minor Scale

Also Known As
A Aeolian Mode →

Hear the A Minor Scale played for you.

A – B – C – D – E – F – G – A
Right Hand Fingering:1 – 2 – 3 – 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5
Left Hand Fingering:5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 – 3 – 2 – 1
Formula:W-H-W-W-H-W-W
Intervals:P1-M2-m3-P4-P5-m6-m7-P8
Scale Degrees:1-2-b3-4-5-b6-b7-8

Introduction

A Minor Scale on the piano — Notes: A – B – C – D – E – F – G – A
A Minor Scale on the piano

The A Minor scale contains seven notes: A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. It follows the whole-step / half-step pattern W-H-W-W-H-W-W.

The A Minor scale (more precisely, the A Natural Minor scale) is the first minor scale most pianists learn, and it is the relative minor of C Major. Its notes — A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and A — sit on the seven white keys of the piano, just like C Major. The only difference is where you start and stop: A Minor begins on A, follows the minor pattern (W-H-W-W-H-W-W), and lands back on A. That single change of "home note" is what gives the scale its darker, more reflective character.

Because A Minor and C Major share every note, they are called relative keys — they sound completely different but use identical note material. A Minor's parallel major is A Major (same root, opposite mode). The diatonic chords in A Minor — Am, B°, C, Dm, Em, F, G — show up in everything from Bach to Adele. The classic minor progression i–VI–III–VII (Am → F → C → G) is the backbone of countless pop, rock, and ballad songs, including "Stairway to Heaven" and "Hotel California".

A Minor has two close cousins worth knowing about: A Harmonic Minor raises the seventh note (G → G♯) to create a stronger pull back to A, and A Melodic Minor raises both the sixth and seventh ascending. The "natural" version on this page is the unaltered scale and the most common starting point for understanding minor tonality.

A Minor Scale Notes

DegreeNameNoteInterval
1TonicAP1
2SupertonicDM2
b3MediantBm3
4SubdominantEP4
5DominantCP5
b6SubmediantFm6
b7Leading ToneGm7
8OctaveAP8

How to Play the A Minor Scale

Practice the A Minor Scale hands separately at a slow, steady tempo before putting them together. Aim for even rhythm and a relaxed wrist — the goal is a smooth, connected line where every note sounds the same length and volume. Once both hands feel comfortable on their own, layer them at the same slow tempo and only speed up when the joined version is clean.

Right Hand (RH)

Place your right hand over the keys with the thumb on the root. Use the fingering: 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5 — 1 = thumb, 2 = index, 3 = middle, 4 = ring, 5 = pinky.

Step12345678
NoteABCDEFG
Finger12312345

Watch for the thumb tuck: the thumb (1) passes under your fingers at note 4 (D). Keep your wrist level and quiet — only the thumb moves under, the hand stays in place above the keys.

Left Hand (LH)

For the left hand, start with your pinky on the root. Use the fingering: 5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1

Step12345678
NoteABCDEFG
Finger54321321

Watch for the crossover: a long finger (3 or 4) crosses over the thumb at note 6 (F). Lift the long finger over cleanly without disturbing the thumb. Descending the scale, the thumb will pass under at the same spots in reverse.

Practice routine

  1. One octave, ascending only, right hand alone — slow and even.
  2. One octave, ascending and descending, right hand alone.
  3. Repeat steps 1–2 with the left hand alone.
  4. Hands together, ascending and descending, at the same slow tempo.
  5. Two octaves hands together once step 4 feels comfortable.
  6. Increase the tempo only when the previous tempo is fully clean.

Key Signature

The key of A Minor has no sharps or flats. Every note is natural, which makes it the easiest key signature to read on the staff.

Chords in the Key of A Minor Scale

These are the diatonic triads built on each degree of the A Minor Scale:

C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
i — A Minor (minor)
DegreeNumeralChordQuality
1iA MinorMinor
2ii°B DiminishedDiminished
3IIIC MajorMajor
4ivD MinorMinor
5vE MinorMinor
6VIF MajorMajor
7VIIG MajorMajor

A Minor Scale — Frequently Asked Questions

What notes are in the A Minor scale?
The A Natural Minor scale has seven unique notes plus the octave: A – B – C – D – E – F – G – A. All seven are white keys on the piano — no sharps or flats. The notes are exactly the same as C Major; only the starting note (and therefore the feel) changes.
How many sharps or flats does A Minor have?
A Natural Minor has zero sharps and zero flats. It shares its key signature with C Major — they are relative keys, meaning they use the exact same notes but with different tonal centers. A Harmonic Minor adds one accidental (G♯), and A Melodic Minor adds two accidentals on the way up (F♯ and G♯).
What is the fingering for the A Minor scale?
Right hand: 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5 ascending, reverse descending — same fingering as C Major. The thumb tucks under finger 3 between C and D. Left hand: 5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1, with finger 3 crossing over the thumb between E and F.
What is the difference between natural, harmonic, and melodic minor?
Three flavors of minor: Natural Minor uses the unaltered scale (A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A) — the version on this page. Harmonic Minor raises the seventh note (G becomes G♯), which creates a strong pull back to A and gives the scale an exotic, dramatic sound. Melodic Minor raises both the sixth and seventh on the way up (F→F♯, G→G♯) for a smoother ascending line, then reverts to natural minor on the way down.
What is the relative major of A Minor?
The relative major of A Minor is C Major. Both scales share the exact same seven notes — the only difference is where the home note sits. A piece written in A Minor and a piece written in C Major would have identical key signatures (no sharps or flats) but completely different emotional centers.
What chords are in the key of A Minor?
The seven diatonic chords in A Minor are Am (i), B° (ii°), C (III), Dm (iv), Em (v), F (VI), G (VII). The classic minor progression i–VI–III–VII in A is Am → F → C → G — the chord engine behind "Stairway to Heaven", "Hotel California", and dozens of other rock and pop standards.

Practice Tips

  • Play the scale right hand alone, very slowly. The fingering is the same as C Major: 1-2-3-1-2-3-4-5. The thumb tucks under finger 3 between C and D — practice that crossing in isolation first.
  • Listen for the half-steps: between B and C (notes 2-3) and between E and F (notes 5-6). These are the intervals that make the scale sound minor — sing or hum them so your ear locks onto the minor character.
  • Left hand uses 5-4-3-2-1-3-2-1, with finger 3 crossing over the thumb between E and F.
  • Compare A Minor to C Major: identical notes, identical fingering, completely different sound. Play C Major then immediately play A Minor (A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A). The shift in mood comes entirely from where you start and stop.
  • Use a metronome at 60 BPM, one note per click. Move up by 4 BPM only when you can play one full octave with no hesitation at the thumb crossing.
  • Play in contrary motion (both hands moving outward from middle A). Same fingering numbers in both hands at the same time — this is the easiest way to build hands-together coordination.
  • Once natural minor is comfortable, try A Harmonic Minor (raise the G to G♯) and A Melodic Minor (raise both F and G ascending). Hearing the three minor scales side-by-side teaches you what each variation does to the mood.
  • End your practice by arpeggiating the A Minor chord (A-C-E). The chord is one of the easiest shapes on the piano — three white keys, no thumb tuck — and connecting the scale to the chord builds muscle memory in both hands.

Related Tools

Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.