C natural minor on guitar

Read the pitch map

C natural minor contains C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭ and B♭. The map shows those pitches on a guitar in standard tuning: E2, A2, D3, G3, B3, E4 from the lowest string to the highest. The top line of the diagram is the high E string; the bottom line is the low E string.

Find the tonic on each string

The root C appears at these fret numbers within frets 0–12. Fret 0 means the open string. If the table lists both 0 and 12, those positions are an octave apart, not two different note names.

Use the open strings as reference points

The open strings inside this scale are D3, G3. They provide convenient pitch references, but they do not tell you which note is the tonic.

E-flat, A-flat and B-flat distinguish this collection from C major. B-flat lies a whole tone below C; B natural is the raised seventh of C harmonic minor, a different selection.

Trace one small interval pattern

On string 6, locate C at fret 8. Staying on that string, the second degree is at fret 10 and the minor third at fret 11. Read the labels C · D · E♭ while comparing the two-fret step with the one-fret step. If a position lies beyond your displayed range, move the range or use the corresponding root on another string.

1. Find one C root without the degree overlay.
2. Turn on degrees and locate 1, 2 and ♭3 nearby.
3. Play a short ascending phrase, then return to the same root.

A map is not a fingering prescription

Several highlighted locations may represent the same pitch or different octaves. You do not need to play every marked location at once. Choose a comfortable register and position for your instrument and hands; this tool does not certify stretches, barre shapes or a complete performance fingering.

Alternate tunings change the coordinates. These references apply only to the six standard open-string pitches stated above.