D SHARP AEOLIAN MODE

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

D# – E# – F# – G# – A# – B – 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# – Fx – G# – A# – B# – Cx

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

D# – E# – F# – G# – A# – B – C#

Derivative Approach:

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

F# – G# – A# – B – 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# – B – 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 2nd position (lowest fret is 2)

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

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

Finally, let’s look at D# aeolian in the 10th position (lowest fret is 10)

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.