F AEOLIAN MODE

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

F – G – Ab – Bb – C – Db – Eb

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

Parallel Approach:

F Major has the following notes:

F – G – A – Bb – C – D – E

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

F – G – Ab – Bb – C – Db – Eb

Derivative Approach:

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

Ab – Bb – C – Db – Eb – F – G

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

F – G – Ab – Bb – C – Db – Eb

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

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

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

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

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

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

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