C Major vs C Natural Minor
C natural minor is C major with a flat 3rd, 6th and 7th: E, A and B become Eb, Ab and Bb. Both drawn on one guitar neck.
Tap any note on the neck.
Swipe the neck sideways to see the higher frets.
C natural minor is C major with a flat 3rd, 6th and 7th: E, A and B become Eb, Ab and Bb.
C major vs C natural minor: what is different
They share four notes and differ in three:
- The 3rd: E in major, Eb in natural minor (3 → b3).
- The 6th: A in major, Ab in natural minor (6 → b6).
- The 7th: B in major, Bb in natural minor (7 → b7).
Shared by both: C D F G.
When to use which
Play both over the same chord and listen to the notes that differ. Whichever sounds right for the song is the answer; the names matter less than the ear. As a rule, the scale with the raised note sounds brighter or more tense, and the one with the lowered note sounds darker or more settled.
Hear the difference
- Both scales on one neck, the differing notes highlighted
- C major on its own, with positions and chords
- C natural minor on its own
- Loop C major position 1, then the same position in natural minor — listen for where the shapes part ways.
Free, no account needed. Change the key and both scales follow.
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