D AEOLIAN MODE

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

D – E – F – G – A – Bb – C

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

Parallel Approach:

D Major has the following notes:

D – E – F# – G – A – B – C#

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

D – E – F – G – A – Bb – C

Derivative Approach:

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

F – G – A – Bb – C – D – E

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

D – E – F – G – A – Bb – C

Let’s look at the D 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 D aeolian in the 1st position (lowest fret is 1)

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

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

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

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

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

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