Chord & FretAeolian (A)
Aeolian is the modal name for the natural minor scale — exactly the same notes, and both have their own page here: this one views it as the 6th mode of Ionian, that is, the major scale starting from its sixth degree. It is the classic minor sound: melancholic, inward-looking, with no leading tone — the half-step that pushes back toward the home note. Its harmony therefore feels circular rather than conclusive, as in i–bVII–bVI; you hear it everywhere in rock, pop, metal and film music.
Example: A – B – C – D – E – F – GFormula: 1 – 2 – b3 – 4 – 5 – b6 – b7In the formula, the numbers are degrees — positions counted in the reference major scale; "b" lowers a half step and "#" raises one.
Family: The seven modes of the major scale.
The diatonic modes share the same pattern of tones and semitones but reorganize the center. To sound modal you have to reinforce the center and the characteristic degree — if the music keeps resolving to C, the ear hears C major, not D Dorian.
Chords in the harmonic field
These are the seven chords born from this scale — one built on each of its notes. Put another way: the set of chords that sounds naturally "inside" the scale. See the harmonic field of every key →
Am7Bm7b5Cmaj7Dm7Em7Fmaj7G7The same scale on all four instruments
In the diagrams, each dot carries its scale degree — 1 is the tonic, highlighted.
Each instrument above shows one box of Aeolian — a slice of the whole neck. In Chord & Fret, you hear the scale in each of the four instruments' own voices; walk the scale's positions along the whole neck; and turn on the built-in metronome at the same BPM. Start free. Unlock everything with Pro. 100% offline. Open in Chord & Fret →