‘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 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 4thPosition (Lowest Fret is 4)
C Aeolian 7th Position (Lowest Fret is 7)
C Aeolian 10th Position (Lowest Fret is 10)
C Aeolian 11th Position (Lowest Fret is 11)
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
- Cm chord (C Aeolian works well over this chord)
- Cm7 chord (C Aeolian works well over this chord)
- Eb Major scale is the relative Major of C minor
