C Aeolian Mode on the Guitar – 5 CAGED Positions, Tabs and Theory

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

C – D – Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb

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.

C Aeolian Mode Using The 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 – Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb

C Aeolian Mode Using The Derivative Approach

C is the 6th note of the Eb major scale:

Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb – C – D

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

C – D – Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb

Let’s look at the C aeolian mode in the different positions on the guitar fretboard:

C Aeolian in the Open Position

Firstly, let’s look at the open position:

C Aeolian Mode Open Position Frets
C Aeolian Mode Open Position Notes

C Aeolian CAGED Positions

Now let’s look at C aeolian in the 5 different CAGED positions along the fretboard.

C Aeolian 3rd Position (Lowest Fret is 3)

C Aeolian Mode 3rd Position Frets
C Aeolian Mode 3rd Position Notes

C Aeolian 4thPosition (Lowest Fret is 4)

C Aeolian Mode 4th Position Frets
C Aeolian Mode 4th Position Notes

C Aeolian 7th Position (Lowest Fret is 7)

C Aeolian Mode 7th Position Frets
C Aeolian Mode 7th Position Notes

C Aeolian 10th Position (Lowest Fret is 10)

C Aeolian Mode 10th Position Frets
C Aeolian Mode 10th Position Notes

C Aeolian 11th Position (Lowest Fret is 11)

C Aeolian Mode 11th Position Frets
C Aeolian Mode 11th Position Notes

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.

Further Reading

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