CH·01 / G♯ AEOLIAN
VI
G♯ Aeolian
Melancholic, natural minor — built from B major
PARENT FAMILY · B MAJ
All 7 modes share the same parent scale (B major). G♯ Aeolian is the VI mode.
| # | Mode | Diatonic chords | Mood |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | B Ionian | Bmaj7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7 – Emaj7 – F♯7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7♭5 | Happy, bright, resolved |
| II | C♯ Dorian | C♯m7 – D♯m7 – Emaj7 – F♯7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7♭5 – Bmaj7 | Soulful, minor but with hope |
| III | D♯ Phrygian | D♯m7 – Emaj7 – F♯7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7♭5 – Bmaj7 – C♯m7 | Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco |
| IV | E Lydian | Emaj7 – F♯7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7♭5 – Bmaj7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7 | Dreamy, floating, ethereal |
| V | F♯ Mixolydian | F♯7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7♭5 – Bmaj7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7 – Emaj7 | Bluesy, dominant, rock |
| VI | G♯ Aeolian | G♯m7 – A♯m7♭5 – Bmaj7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7 – Emaj7 – F♯7 | Melancholic, natural minor |
| VII | A♯ Locrian | A♯m7♭5 – Bmaj7 – C♯m7 – D♯m7 – Emaj7 – F♯7 – G♯m7 | Unstable, tense, dissonant |
SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7
G♯
A♯
B
C♯
D♯
E
F♯
Formula: 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7
The Aeolian scale on G♯ contains the notes G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯. The pentatonic subset is G♯, B, C♯, D♯, F♯.
Characteristic note: the ♭6 (flat sixth) deepens its melancholic minor character.
DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD
I
G♯m7
II
A♯m7♭5
III
Bmaj7
IV
C♯m7
V
D♯m7
VI
Emaj7
VII
F♯7
▸ Play G♯ Aeolian over G♯m7 and F♯7 progressions.
FRETBOARD · STANDARD TUNING · 15F● LIVE
CHARACTER · MELANCHOLIC, NATURAL MINOR
MELANCHOLIC, NATURAL MINOR
G♯ Aeolian is a minor mode with a melancholic, natural minor character. It is the VI mode of B major — it uses the same 7 notes as B Ionian but is rooted on G♯, which shifts the harmonic focus and creates a completely different sound. The tonic chord is G♯m7.
Where to use G♯ 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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