‘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). 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.
D# Aeolian Mode Using The 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#
D# Aeolian Mode Using The 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:
D# Aeolian in the Open Position
Firstly, let’s look at the open position:
D Sharp Aeolian CAGED Positions
Now let’s look at D# aeolian in the 5 different CAGED positions along the fretboard.
D# Aeolian 1st Position (Lowest Fret is 1)
D# Aeolian 2nd Position (Lowest Fret is 2)
D# Aeolian 6th Position (Lowest Fret is 6)
D# Aeolian 7th Position (Lowest Fret is 7)
D# Aeolian 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.
Further Reading
- D#m chord (D# Aeolian works well over this chord)
- D#m7 chord (D# Aeolian works well over this chord)
- F# Major scale is the relative Major of D# minor
