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Don't forget to try substituting the b7 note with an actual 7 note,

a half-step up, while the Major V chord is being played! 

Scale degree1
2b3
4
5b6
b77
A minor scaleA
BC
D
EF
GG#​
Chord NameRoman Num.Chord Notes
A minor (Am)iA, C, E
E Major (E)VE, G#, B

When soloing over Major "Vchords, substitute the minor scale's "b7" note with the "7" note (a half-step above the "b7", shown in red above), since the "7" note is part of the "V" chord. This turns natural minor scales into harmonic minor scales. 

  • A natural minor scale: A, B, C, D, E, F, G
  • A harmonic minor scale: A, B, C, D, E, F, G#

  Now see how many of these chord progressions you can play along with when you don't know which track is coming up next! Use the Roman numerals that show up in the audio player as your clues & practice learning those Roman numerals here!  

  This is where you really start going a long ways towards training your ear and building the muscle memory you need to play songs "on the fly"! 

Scale degree1
2b3
4
5b6
b77
A minor scaleA
BC
D
EF
GG#


Chord NameRoman Num.Chord Notes
A minor (Am)iA, C, E
D minor (Dm)ivD, F, A
F Major (F)VIF, A, C
E Major (E)
VE, G#, B


It's amazing how many good sounds happen when you noodle around with (scale) notes from the key a song is in. Doing this builds lots of muscle and ear memory, which is the whole goal!

Scale degree1
2b3
4
5b6
b77
A minor scaleA
BC
D
EF
GG#​


Chord NameRoman Num.Chord Notes
A minor (Am)iA, C, E
G Major (G)VIIG, B, D
F Major (F)VIF, A, C
E Major (E)VE, G#, B


  This progression has a really cool descending sound. Note that each measure ends with the tension of the Major V chord. 

E, G#, B
Scale degree1
2b3
4
5b6
b77
A minor scaleA
BC
D
EF
GG#
Scale degree1
2b3
4
5b6
b7
A minor scaleA
BC
D
EF
G


Soloing/Bass Lines: Experiment with the notes above throughout the song, but focus on the Chord Notes of each chord being played. 


Chord NameRoman Num.Chord Notes
A minor (Am)iA, C, E
G Major (G)VIIG, B, D


Like minor "v" chords, Major "VII" chords seem to resolve back to

"i" chords. Neither do as strongly as Major "V" chords though.  

Scale degree1
2b3
4
5b6
b7
A minor scaleA
BC
D
EF
G


Soloing/Bass Lines: Experiment with the notes above throughout the song, but focus on the Chord Notes of each chord being played


Chord NameRoman Num.Chord Notes
A minor (Am)iA, C, E
G Major (G)VIIG, B, D
E minor (Em)vE, G, B


When you hear the "i" chord, think "home" or "root"!  

Scale degree1
2b3
4
5b6
b7
A minor scaleA
BC
D
EF
G


Soloing/Bass Lines: Experiment with the notes above throughout the song, but focus on the Chord Notes of each chord being played. 


Chord NameRoman Num.Chord Notes
A minor (Am)iA, C, E
E minor (Em)vE, G, B


Minor "v" chords resolve back to "i" chords, but not nearly

as strongly as Major "V" chords.  Listen to Track #4 below.  

Practice strumming along, adding solos, or playing bass lines with the following tracks.  Muscle memory is the ultimate goal!


Scale degree1
2b3
4
5b6
b7
A minor scaleA
BC
D
EF
G


Soloing/Bass Lines: Experiment with the notes above throughout the song, but focus on the Chord Notes of each chord being played.  ("Chord Notes" are the notes that make up each chord). 


Chord NameRoman Num.Chord Notes
A minoriA, C, E

All of this page's Tracks on Shuffle!


  • Am i v i 110bpm1:11
  • Am i iv VI V 132bpm0:54
  • Am i iv VI V 110bpm1:05
  • Am i iv VI V 088bpm1:22
  • Am i VII VI V 144bpm0:49
  • Am i iv V 065bpm1:08
  • Am i iv V 078bpm0:57
  • Am i VII VI V 096bpm1:14
  • Am i VII VI V 120bpm0:59
  • Am i iv V 052bpm1:25
  • Am i V i 144bpm0:55
  • Am i V i 120bpm1:06
  • Am i V i 096bpm1:23
  • Am i VII i 156bpm0:52
  • Am i VII i 130bpm1:02
  • Am i VII i 104bpm1:17
  • Am i VII v 110bpm1:12
  • Am i VII v 088bpm1:26
  • Am i VII v 070bpm1:48
  • Am i v i 132bpm0:59
  • Am i v i 088bpm1:29
  • Am i 144bpm0:58
  • Am i 120bpm1:10
  • Am i 096bpm1:28
  • Am i 077bpm1:50
  • Am i v i 070bpm1:51
  • Am i VII v 056bpm2:15
  • Am i VII i 083bpm1:37
  • Am i V i 077bpm1:43
  • Am i iv V 042bpm1:47
  • Am i VII VI V 077bpm1:33
  • Am i iv VI V 070bpm1:42

  • Am i iv VI V 070bpm1:42
  • Am i iv VI V 088bpm1:22
  • Am i iv VI V 110bpm1:05
  • Am i iv VI V 132bpm0:54

Track #7: Am-Dm-F-E

i-iv-VI-V


  • Am i VII VI V 077bpm1:33
  • Am i VII VI V 096bpm1:14
  • Am i VII VI V 120bpm0:59
  • Am i VII VI V 144bpm0:49

Track #6: Am-G-F-E

i-VII-VI-V


  • Am i iv V 042bpm1:47
  • Am i iv V 052bpm1:25
  • Am i iv V 065bpm1:08
  • Am i iv V 078bpm0:57

Track #5: Am-Dm-E

i-iv-V


  • Am i V i 077bpm1:43
  • Am i V i 096bpm1:23
  • Am i V i 120bpm1:06
  • Am i V i 144bpm0:55

Track #4: Am-E -Am

i-V-i


  • Am i VII i 083bpm1:37
  • Am i VII i 104bpm1:17
  • Am i VII i 130bpm1:02
  • Am i VII i 156bpm0:52

Track #3: Am-G-Am

i-VII-i


  • Am i VII v 056bpm2:15
  • Am i VII v 070bpm1:48
  • Am i VII v 088bpm1:26
  • Am i VII v 110bpm1:12

  • Am i v i 070bpm1:51
  • Am i v i 088bpm1:29
  • Am i v i 110bpm1:11
  • Am i v i 132bpm0:59

Some Key of A minor Chord Progressions - (the relative minor key of C Major)

Track #2: Am-G-Em

i-VII-v


Track #1: Am-Em-Am

i-v-i


A minor Chord Jam Track: All A minor

Progression in Roman numerals: i 

For these key of A minor tracks, try these scales:
A minor: A, B, C, DE, F, G (all the notes in white boxes)
A minor pentatonic: ACDEG (the underlined notes)

       See these scales with a Fretboard Toolbox:

  • Use page 19 of any Complete Edition
  • Use pages 11-14 of any Essential Edition









  • Am i 077bpm1:50
  • Am i 096bpm1:28
  • Am i 120bpm1:10
  • Am i 144bpm0:58

 Soloing/Bass Lines: Experiment with the notes above throughout the song, but focus on the Chord Notes of each chord being played.  

Chord NameRoman Num.Chord Notes
A minor (Am)iA, C, E
D minor (Dm)VE, G#, B
E Major (E)VIF, A, C