‘C Sharp Aeolian’ is the 6th mode of the E major scale. The notes in C# Aeolian are:
C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A – B
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 Sharp 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# – E – F# – G# – A – B#
C Sharp Aeolian Mode Using The Derivative Approach
C# is the 6th note of the E major scale:
E – F# – G# – A – B – C# – D#
If we play the E major scale and start on the 6th note we get the following:
C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A – B#
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 Sharp Aeolian CAGED Positions
Now let’s look at C sharp aeolian in the 5 different CAGED positions along the fretboard.
C Aeolian 4th Position (Lowest Fret is 4)


C Aeolian 5th Position (Lowest Fret is 5)


C Aeolian 8th Position (Lowest Fret is 8)


C Aeolian 11th Position (Lowest Fret is 11)


C Aeolian 12th Position (Lowest Fret is 12)


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
- C#m chord (C# Aeolian works well over this chord)
- C#m7 chord (C# Aeolian works well over this chord)
- E Major scale is the relative Major of C# minor