C AEOLIAN MODE

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

C – D – Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb

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

Parallel Approach:

C Major has the following notes:

C – D – E – F – G – A – B

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

C – D – Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb

Derivative Approach:

C is the 6th note of the Eb major scale:

Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb – C – D

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

C – D – Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb

Let’s look at the C 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 C aeolian in the 3rd position (lowest fret is 3)

Now let’s look at C aeolian in the 4th position (lowest fret is 4)

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

Now let’s look at C aeolian in the 10th position (lowest fret is 10)

Finally, let’s look at C aeolian in the 11th position (lowest fret is 11)

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

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