D FLAT AEOLIAN MODE

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

Db – Eb – Fb – Gb – Ab – Bbb – Cb

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

Parallel Approach:

Db Major has the following notes:

Db – Eb – F – Gb – Ab – Bb – C

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

Db – Eb – Fb – Gb – Ab – Bbb – Cb

Derivative Approach:

Db is the 6th note of the Fb major scale:

Fb – Gb – Ab – Bbb – Cb – Db – Eb

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

Db – Eb – Fb – Gb – Ab – Bbb – Cb

Let’s look at the Db 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 Db aeolian in the 4th position (lowest fret is 4)

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

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

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

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

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

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