B AEOLIAN MODE

‘B Aeolian’ is the 6th mode of the D major scale. The notes in B Aeolian are:

B – C# – D – E – F# – G – A

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 B aeolian using both the parallel approach and the derivative approach.

Parallel Approach:

B Major has the following notes:

B – C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A#

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

B – C# – D – E – F# – G – A

Derivative Approach:

B is the 6th note of the D major scale:

D – E – F# – G – A – B – C#

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

B – C# – D – E – F# – G – A

Let’s look at the B 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 B aeolian in the 2nd position (lowest fret is 2)

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

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

Now let’s look at B aeolian in the 9th position (lowest fret is 9)

Finally, let’s look at B aeolian in the 10th position (lowest fret is 10)

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

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