A Aeolian

Melancholic, natural minor — built from C major

PARENT FAMILY · C MAJ

All 7 modes share the same parent scale (C major). A Aeolian is the VI mode.

#	Mode	Diatonic chords	Mood
I	C Ionian	Cmaj7 – Dm7 – Em7 – Fmaj7 – G7 – Am7 – Bm7♭5	Happy, bright, resolved
II	D Dorian	Dm7 – Em7 – Fmaj7 – G7 – Am7 – Bm7♭5 – Cmaj7	Soulful, minor but with hope
III	E Phrygian	Em7 – Fmaj7 – G7 – Am7 – Bm7♭5 – Cmaj7 – Dm7	Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco
IV	F Lydian	Fmaj7 – G7 – Am7 – Bm7♭5 – Cmaj7 – Dm7 – Em7	Dreamy, floating, ethereal
V	G Mixolydian	G7 – Am7 – Bm7♭5 – Cmaj7 – Dm7 – Em7 – Fmaj7	Bluesy, dominant, rock
VI	A Aeolian	Am7 – Bm7♭5 – Cmaj7 – Dm7 – Em7 – Fmaj7 – G7	Melancholic, natural minor
VII	B Locrian	Bm7♭5 – Cmaj7 – Dm7 – Em7 – Fmaj7 – G7 – Am7	Unstable, tense, dissonant

SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7

A B C D E F G

Formula: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7

The Aeolian scale on A contains the notes A, B, C, D, E, F, G. The pentatonic subset is A, C, D, E, G.

Characteristic note: the ♭6 (flat sixth) deepens its melancholic minor character.

DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD

I

Am7

II

Bm7♭5

III

Cmaj7

IV

Dm7

V

Em7

VI

Fmaj7

VII

G7

▸ Play A Aeolian over Am7 and G7 progressions.

FRETBOARD · STANDARD TUNING · 15F● LIVE

CHARACTER · MELANCHOLIC, NATURAL MINOR

MELANCHOLIC, NATURAL MINOR

A Aeolian is a minor mode with a melancholic, natural minor character. It is the VI mode of C major — it uses the same 7 notes as C Ionian but is rooted on A, which shifts the harmonic focus and creates a completely different sound. The tonic chord is Am7.

Where to use A Aeolian

Rock, pop, classical, metal.

Famous examples

Stairway to Heaven
Hotel California
Sultans of Swing

What makes it distinctive: the ♭6 (flat sixth) deepens its melancholic minor character.

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