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Aeolian Mode on Guitar

[Mode Series Contents]

Aeolian is the 6th mode of the major scale, following Mixolydian (5), Lydian (4), Phrygian (3), Dorian (2) and Ionian (1). Therefore, Aeolian begins on the 6th note of the major scale.

When talked about in a non-modal context, Aeolian is simply known as the natural minor scale. Why "natural"? Good question! This helps us distinguish it from other minor scales (e.g. harmonic and melodic minor). Don't worry about those right now.

Just like the other modes, Aeolian has it's own unique flavour and is probably the most commonly used minor scale/mode in western pop and rock music.

Let's get to know it...

Intervals of Aeolian

1 W 2 H b3 W 4 W 5 H b6 W b7 W 8(1)
Hear it (A Aeolian) >

Don't know what the W's and H's mean? If so, take the intervals lesson here before you go on.

From the previous minor mode lessons (Phrygian and Dorian), you should be familiar with the significance of the flat 3rd (b3), also known as the minor 3rd. This makes Aeolian a minor mode, as the basic minor triad (also used to create minor chords) is: 1 b3 5.

You should also know how the flat 7th is a natural tone used in the minor modes.

We learned that the flat 6th was part of Phrygian (another minor mode), but because the rest of Aeolian is slightly different to Phrygian, that flat 6th will paint a rather different picture, when used among the other tones in the scale.

Listen to the Aeolian interval sequence below, which makes use of its key tones, to introduce you to its "flavour":

2-b3-1-b6-b7-4-5-1-b3-4-2-b7-1 interval sequence >

Aeolian mode on guitar

As with the previous lessons, let's first look at Aeolian mode in its boxed scale pattern:

Aeolian mode on guitar

Finger numbers

Later in the series, we'll look at how to expand out of that box and use more of the guitar's fretboard to play Aeolian. This will free up your finger movements. For now though, just get to know where each of Aeolian's tones lie within that space of 5 frets.

See how it spans 3 root notes, so you effectively have 3 octaves to experiment with.

What about finger positions?

Aeolian mode fingering

Watch out for that little step in the pattern on the G string! You may have a better way of working around that. The above diagram is just a guide!

Playing Aeolian over chords

As we found out earlier, Aeolian is a minor mode/scale (due to the minor 3rd interval) so it will work over... minor chords! As a mode, it will work over a sequence of chords, but this will become clearer when we play over the jam track later.

The key note to be careful with in Aeolian is the flat 6th. We heard it earlier as part of an interval sequence, but over a minor chord it's rather different.

See, if you hold the flat 6th over a minor chord, it won't sound too harmonious. Take a listen:

Flat 6th held over a minor chord >

It may be good for a kind of atmospheric, ominous effect, something you might hear in a horror film!

So how can we use the flat 6th more... musically? Well, it does sound good when used effectively. There are a couple of ways to accomplish this. First, you can use the flat 6th as a passing tone. This is where you skip over it as if it's a bridge between two more stable tones in the scale. For example, you could sandwich the flat 6th within this sequence - 5 1 b7 b6 5 4 5:

Take a listen >

By merging the flat 6th into a larger phrase, it puts it into context and therefore removes the unharmonious tension created if you simply hold the flat 6th over a minor chord.

You can also use the flat 6th in a hammer-on/pull-off sequence:

Take a listen >

So the main thing to remember when you're creating phrases in Aeolian is to "glance over" that flat 6th tone as part of a sequence, rather than emphasising the flat 6th as a single note.

Aeolian jam track

Ok! So here we are again with another jam track to help us experiment with our own ideas.

Just like the other modes, Aeolian can work over more than one chord, with the right chord progression.

Below I've created a backing track in the key of A minor, which is compatible with A Aeolian. The main chord to focus on is known as the tonic chord. This is, in this example, A minor. The other chords you'll hear in the progression are also compatible with A Aeolian, but the notes of Aeolian will interact differently with non-tonic chords.

So, in a nutshell, build up phrases over these chords, but focus the resolution of these phrases on that tonic A minor chord. That tonic chord will bring out the Aeolian flavour and disperse it through the progression in that context.

Just have fun with it. Don't, however, just play the Aeolian notes up or down in sequence from 1 to 7, try skipping strings, staggering the patterns of your phrases etc. but keep in mind what we've learned about that rebellious flat 6th!

Enjoy!

Download A Aeolian backing track here >

A Aeolian boxed pattern

Learn how to truly master this scale and expand out of the box using the Guitar Scale Mastery Course.

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