‘E Flat Aeolian’ is the 6th mode of the G flat major scale. The notes in Eb Aeolian are:
Eb – F – Gb – Ab – Bb – Cb – Db
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 Eb aeolian using both the parallel approach and the derivative approach.
E Flat Aeolian Mode Using The Parallel Approach
Eb Major has the following notes:
Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb – C – D
If we ‘lower’ the 3rd note (G), 6th note (C) and 7th note (D), we get the following:
Eb – F – Gb – Ab – Bb – Cb – Db
Eb Aeolian Mode Using The Derivative Approach
Eb is the 6th note of the Gb major scale:
Gb – Ab – Bb – Cb – Db – Eb – F
If we play the Gb major scale and start on the 6th note we get the following:
Eb – F – Gb – Ab – Bb – Cb – Db
Let’s look at the Eb aeolian mode in the different positions on the guitar fretboard:
Eb Aeolian in the Open Position
Firstly, let’s look at the open position:
Eb Aeolian CAGED Positions
Now let’s look at Eb aeolian in the 5 different CAGED positions along the fretboard.
Eb Aeolian 1st Position (Lowest Fret is 1)
Eb Aeolian 2nd Position (Lowest Fret is 2)
Eb Aeolian 6th Position (Lowest Fret is 6)
Eb Aeolian 7th Position (Lowest Fret is 7)
Eb Aeolian 10th Position (Lowest Fret is 10)
That covers the 5 basic positions and the open position of Eb aeolian along the guitar fretboard. For an in depth explanation of the aeolian mode, check out aeolian mode explained.
Further Reading
- Ebm chord (Eb Aeolian works well over this chord)
- Ebm7 chord (Eb Aeolian works well over this chord)
- Gb Major scale is the relative Major of Eb minor
