C natural minor scale

The C natural minor scale has the notes C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭. Its formula is 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7. It is mode 6 of the E♭ major scale: the same notes, starting on C. Key signature: 3 flats (E♭ A♭ B♭).

It can also be written as B♯; we use the spelling with fewer accidentals.

Open in Grados with sound →

Scale notes

Degree	Formula	Note
I	1	C tonic
II	2	D
III	b3	E♭
IV	4	F
V	5	G
VI	b6	A♭
VII	b7	B♭

Chords of the scale

Symbol	Chord	Notes	Chord-scale	Tensions	Avoid
Im7 modal center	Cm7	C E♭ G B♭	Aeolian C	9 (D), 11 (F)	b13 (A♭)
IIø	Dø	D F A♭ C	Locrian D	11 (G), b13 (B♭)	b9 (E♭)
bIIIMaj7	E♭Maj7	E♭ G B♭ D	Ionian E♭	9 (F), 13 (C)	11 (A♭)
IVm7	Fm7	F A♭ C E♭	Dorian F	9 (G), 11 (B♭)	13 (D)
Vm7 characteristic	Gm7	G B♭ D F	Phrygian G	11 (C)	b9 (A♭), b13 (E♭)
bVIMaj7 characteristic	A♭Maj7	A♭ C E♭ G	Lydian A♭	9 (B♭), #11 (D), 13 (F)	–
bVII7 characteristic	B♭7	B♭ D F A♭	Mixolydian B♭	9 (C), 13 (G)	11 (E♭)

Character and characteristic note

The natural minor scale, or Aeolian mode, is the sixth mode of the major scale and the relative minor of the major key that shares its notes. It has a minor third, sixth and seventh.

Characteristic note: b6.
Characteristic chords: Vm7 (Gm7), bVIMaj7 (A♭Maj7), bVII7 (B♭7).

How to use it

Center Im. Cadences: Aeolian bVI - bVII - i, soft Aeolian bVI - Vm - i, direct Aeolian bVI - i. Characteristic chords bVIMaj7, Vm7, bVII7 (IVm7 unmarked). The melody keeps coming back to 1 or 5, contrasted with the b6. Im7 with the b6 = S6 (avoid).

Watch out for

IVm7 bVII7 is a ghost II V of bIII: separate it with a cadential point.
IV-6 is better than IIø.

Examples

Ain't No Sunshine
Crystal Silence

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the C natural minor scale?

C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭. 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7.

What chords can you build on the C natural minor scale?

The seventh chords on each degree are Im7 = Cm7, IIø = Dø, bIIIMaj7 = E♭Maj7, IVm7 = Fm7, Vm7 = Gm7, bVIMaj7 = A♭Maj7, bVII7 = B♭7.