Aeolian Mode
Aeolian and natural minor are two names for the same seven-note scale. Its formula is 1-2-flat 3-4-5-flat 6-flat 7. Build C Aeolian, compare its sixth with Dorian and hear why tonal minor often raises degree 7 near a cadence.
- natural minor
- flat 3, flat 6, flat 7
- minor tonic chord
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How do you build Aeolian?
Lower degrees 3, 6 and 7 of a major scale.
C major is C-D-E-F-G-A-B. C Aeolian is:
C-D-E flat-F-G-A flat-B flat-C
The whole- and half-step pattern is whole, half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole.
Is Aeolian different from natural minor?
No. C Aeolian and C natural minor contain the same notes and intervals.
The word Aeolian is useful when comparing the seven modes. Natural minor is common when discussing minor keys and their natural, harmonic and melodic forms.
The label changes the theoretical viewpoint, not the sound.
Which chords occur in Aeolian?
Stack thirds from C Aeolian:
- i: Cm
- ii diminished: D diminished
- flat III: E-flat major
- iv: Fm
- v: Gm
- flat VI: A-flat major
- flat VII: B-flat major
The minor v chord contains B flat. Tonal minor often changes it to G or G7 by raising B flat to B natural.
How do you establish the Aeolian tonic?
Use C in the bass, return to Cm and place phrase endings on C.
Progressions such as Cm-A flat-E flat-B flat keep the notes of C Aeolian and can make C the tonal center through repetition and placement.
Sharing notes with E-flat major does not make the two keys identical. E-flat major emphasizes E flat and its dominant B flat; C Aeolian emphasizes C and Cm.
How is it different from Dorian?
C Dorian raises degree 6 to A natural. C Aeolian uses A flat.
That one note changes the IV chord: F major in Dorian and F minor in Aeolian.
Compare Cm-Fm with Cm-F. Keep C as a drone so the different sixth degree remains connected to the same tonic.
How is it different from Phrygian?
C Phrygian lowers degree 2 from D to D flat.
Both modes contain E flat, A flat and B flat. The half step D-flat-C gives Phrygian a distinct tonic-neighbor relation.
Compare C-D flat-C with C-D-C before running the full scales.
Why does minor harmony raise degree 7?
In Aeolian, B flat sits a whole step below C. Raising it to B natural creates a leading tone one semitone below the tonic.
That change turns Gm into G major or G7. G7-Cm supplies B-C and F-E-flat semitone resolutions.
A piece can move between Aeolian melody and harmonic-minor dominant chords while remaining in C minor.
Where is Aeolian used?
Aeolian appears throughout folk, rock, pop, metal, classical and electronic music.
Some music stays entirely within natural minor. Other minor-key music mixes its notes with harmonic or melodic minor according to the progression.
Identify the actual sixth and seventh degrees instead of assuming one fixed minor collection.
How should you practice it?
Hold C and play C Aeolian. Pause on E flat, A flat and B flat.
Alternate Cm-Fm and name A flat as degree flat 6. Change Fm to F and identify A natural as the Dorian difference.
Finish with Gm-Cm and G7-Cm to compare natural-minor and harmonic-minor dominant motion.