E Aeolian

Melancholic, natural minor — built from G major

PARENT FAMILY · G MAJ

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

#	Mode	Diatonic chords	Mood
I	G Ionian	Gmaj7 – Am7 – Bm7 – Cmaj7 – D7 – Em7 – F♯m7♭5	Happy, bright, resolved
II	A Dorian	Am7 – Bm7 – Cmaj7 – D7 – Em7 – F♯m7♭5 – Gmaj7	Soulful, minor but with hope
III	B Phrygian	Bm7 – Cmaj7 – D7 – Em7 – F♯m7♭5 – Gmaj7 – Am7	Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco
IV	C Lydian	Cmaj7 – D7 – Em7 – F♯m7♭5 – Gmaj7 – Am7 – Bm7	Dreamy, floating, ethereal
V	D Mixolydian	D7 – Em7 – F♯m7♭5 – Gmaj7 – Am7 – Bm7 – Cmaj7	Bluesy, dominant, rock
VI	E Aeolian	Em7 – F♯m7♭5 – Gmaj7 – Am7 – Bm7 – Cmaj7 – D7	Melancholic, natural minor
VII	F♯ Locrian	F♯m7♭5 – Gmaj7 – Am7 – Bm7 – Cmaj7 – D7 – Em7	Unstable, tense, dissonant

SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7

E F♯ G A B C D

Formula: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7

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

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

DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD

I

Em7

II

F♯m7♭5

III

Gmaj7

IV

Am7

V

Bm7

VI

Cmaj7

VII

D7

▸ Play E Aeolian over Em7 and D7 progressions.

FRETBOARD · STANDARD TUNING · 15F● LIVE

CHARACTER · MELANCHOLIC, NATURAL MINOR

MELANCHOLIC, NATURAL MINOR

E Aeolian is a minor mode with a melancholic, natural minor character. It is the VI mode of G major — it uses the same 7 notes as G Ionian but is rooted on E, which shifts the harmonic focus and creates a completely different sound. The tonic chord is Em7.

Where to use E 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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