C SHARP AEOLIAN MODE

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

C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A – B

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# – E – F# – G# – A – B

Derivative Approach:

C# is the 6th note of the E major scale:

E – F# – G# – A – B – C# – D#

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

C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A – B

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 4th position (lowest fret is 4)

Now let’s look at C# aeolian in the 5th position (lowest fret is 5)

Now let’s look at C# aeolian in the 8th position (lowest fret is 8)

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

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

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.