A FLAT AEOLIAN MODE

‘A Flat Aeolian’ is the 6th mode of the C flat major scale. The notes in Ab Aeolian are:

Ab – Bb – Cb – Db – Eb – Fb – Gb

If you have read the post on understanding the aeolian mode, you will know that the aeolian mode contains a ‘flat 3′, a ‘flat 6′ and a ‘flat 7′ (parallel approach). You will also know that it is the 6th mode of the major scale (derivative approach). The aeolian mode is a very commonly used mode and is also known as the ‘natural minor scale’. Let’s briefly look at how to construct Ab aeolian using both the parallel approach and the derivative approach.

Parallel Approach:

Ab Major has the following notes:

Ab – Bb – C – Db – Eb – F – G

If we ‘lower’ the 3rd note (C), 6th note (F) and 7th note (G), we get the following:

Ab – Bb – Cb – Db – Eb – Fb – Gb

Derivative Approach:

Ab is the 6th note of the Cb major scale:

Cb – Db – Eb – Fb – Gb – Ab – Bb

If we play the Cb major scale and start on the 6th note we get the following:

Ab – Bb – Cb – Db – Eb – Fb – Gb

Let’s look at the Ab aeolian mode in the different positions on the guitar fretboard:

Positions Along the Fretboard:

Firstly, let’s look at the open position:

Now let’s look at Ab aeolian in the 3rd position (lowest fret is 3)

Now let’s look at Ab aeolian in the 6th position (lowest fret is 6)

Now let’s look at Ab aeolian in the 7th position (lowest fret is 7)

Now let’s look at Ab aeolian in the 11th position (lowest fret is 11)

Finally, let’s look at Ab aeolian in the 12th position (lowest fret is 12)

That covers the 5 basic positions and the open position of Ab aeolian along the guitar fretboard.

For an in depth explanation of the aeolian mode, check out aeolian mode explained.