Scales and modes
Aeolian mode
The Aeolian mode is the sixth mode of the major scale and the same thing as the natural minor scale: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7, the default dark minor sound.
What is the Aeolian mode?
Aeolian is the sixth of the seven modes of the major scale. Play the notes of C major starting from A (A B C D E F G) and you have A Aeolian, which is exactly the A natural minor scale.
Its formula is 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7. Both names point to the same scale: you say Aeolian when you file it among the modes, natural minor when you talk about keys. Because it starts on the sixth degree, Aeolian is what makes the relative minor work: A minor and C major share the same seven notes.
How do you play Aeolian on the guitar neck?
The most useful A Aeolian position starts at the 5th fret with the root on the 6th string:
| String | Notes (frets) |
|---|---|
| 6 (low E) | A (5), B (7), C (8) |
| 5 (A) | D (5), E (7), F (8) |
| 4 (D) | G (5), A (7) |
| 3 (G) | B (4), C (5), D (7) |
| 2 (B) | E (5), F (6), G (8) |
| 1 (high E) | A (5), B (7), C (8) |
Guitarist's shortcut: it is the A minor pentatonic plus two notes, B (the 2) and F (the b6). If you already know the pentatonic box at the 5th fret, add those two notes and you are playing full Aeolian.
Which chords and progressions sound Aeolian?
The chords of A Aeolian are Am, Bdim, C, Dm, Em, F, G. The Aeolian flavour comes mostly from the major chords on the b6 and b7:
- i-bVI-bVII-i: Am, F, G, Am
- i-bVII-bVI-bVII: Am, G, F, G
- i-iv-v: Am, Dm, Em
These moves carry epic rock ballads and a lot of melancholy pop. Notice the v chord is minor (Em): with no leading tone, the cadence is softer than the harmonic minor version with E7.
Aeolian vs Dorian vs Phrygian: how do you tell them apart?
The three minor modes of the major scale differ by a single note:
- Dorian: major 6 (F# in A), brighter, funk and modal jazz;
- Aeolian: b6 (F), dark and melancholy;
- Phrygian: b2 (Bb) on top of the b6, Spanish or metal flavour.
Exercise: over an open A string drone, play the same phrase three times, changing only the sixth or the second. Show the three modes one after the other on the guitar scales tool to see exactly which frets move.
Key takeaways
- Aeolian = natural minor scale (1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7), mode 6 of the major scale.
- A Aeolian has the notes of C major: that is the relative minor.
- On the neck: minor pentatonic + 2 + b6.
- Characteristic note: the b6. Typical chords: bVI and bVII (F and G in A).
Frequently asked questions
Are the Aeolian mode and the natural minor scale the same?
Yes, same notes and same intervals. Aeolian stresses that it is the sixth mode of the major scale; natural minor sets it apart from harmonic minor and melodic minor.
What chords do you play the Aeolian mode over?
Over a minor tonic chord in a minor-key song, especially when the progression uses bVI and bVII (F and G in A minor). Over a passing m7 in jazz, Dorian is often the better fit.
How do you get from the minor pentatonic to Aeolian?
Keep your pentatonic box and add the second (a whole step above the root) and the minor sixth (a half step above the fifth). In A, those are B and F.
Related terms
Practise in the workshop
Take it from theory to the fretboard
Open the workshop tools and see this idea across the whole neck. Free account, no card needed.