‘B Flat Aeolian’ is the 6th mode of the D flat major scale. The notes in Bb Aeolian are:
Bb – C – Db – Eb – F – Gb – Ab
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 Bb aeolian using both the parallel approach and the derivative approach.
B Flat Aeolian Mode Using The Parallel Approach
Bb major scale has the following notes:
Bb – C – D – Eb – F – G – A
If we ‘lower’ the 3rd note (D), 6th note (G) and 7th note (A), we get the following:
Bb – C – Db – Eb – F – Gb – Ab
B Flat Aeolian Mode Using The Derivative Approach
Bb is the 6th note of the Db major scale:
Db – Eb – F – Gb – Ab – Bb – C
If we play the Db major scale and start on the 6th note we get the following:
Bb – C – Db – Eb – F – Gb – Ab
Let’s look at the Bb aeolian mode in the different positions on the guitar fretboard:
Bb Aeolian CAGED Positions
There is no ‘open position’ for Bb aeolian, as none of the notes in the scale can be played on open strings. Here are the 5 CAGED positions for Bb Aeolian.
Bb Aeolian 1st Position (Lowest Fret is 1)
Bb Aeolian 2nd Position (Lowest Fret is 2)
Bb Aeolian 5thPosition (Lowest Fret is 5)
Bb Aeolian 8th Position (Lowest Fret is 8)
Bb Aeolian 9th Position (Lowest Fret is 9)
That covers the 5 basic positions and the open position of Bb aeolian along the guitar fretboard. For an in depth explanation of the aeolian mode, check out aeolian mode explained.
Further Reading
- Bbm chord (Bb Aeolian works well over this chord)
- Bbm7 chord (Bb Aeolian works well over this chord)
- Db Major scale is the relative Major of Bb minor
