Aeolian (Natural Minor)

The natural minor scale — melancholic and introspective

Aeolian is the natural minor scale — the most common minor major mode and the relative minor of ionian. Melancholic, serious, introspective. Where Ionian resolves to brightness, Aeolian settles into shadow.

It is built on the 6th degree of the major scale. Like the dorian and phrygian modes, it nests the minor pentatonic.

Common in pop, rock, classical, film scores (sadness and drama), singer-songwriter, and metal — the default minor sound in most Western music.

The instrumentTap a note to hear it.

C natural minor

C0D2E♭3F5G7A♭8B♭10

Circle of fifthsInside, the twelve notes by semitone — the wheel every set on this site is drawn on. Outside, the same twelve by fifths. 7 fifths from A♭ — A♭ E♭ B♭ F C G D. From C, aeolian, the natural minor scale: C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭.

On your instrument, in your key

Onguitar bass ukulele mandolin pianoInC D♭D E♭E F F♯G A♭A B♭B

Play over it in the browser

Progressions in C minor onguitar bass ukulele mandolin pianoInC minor D♭ minor D minor E♭ minor E minor F minor F♯ minor G minor A♭ minor A minor B♭ minor B minor

Contained byMinor Major Modes Major ModesContainsMinor Pentatonic Minor Triad Root & 5thParallel toIonian (Major)RelatedDorian PhrygianReferenced byMinor 6th Mixolydian

Practiced in

diatonicMinor Scale Anchored Minor Scale Full Range Minor Scale Pentatonics Full Range Minor Scale Tetrads Full Range Minor Scale Triads Full Range Explore the Minor Scale Minor Scale Melodies (Range Shifting)Minor Scale Melodies (Timed)Minor Scale Melodies (Untimed)Minor Scale Nesting LayersmodesRovingMinor Scale Anchored (Roving)Minor Scale Full Range (Roving)Minor Scale Melodies (Range Shifting)Minor Scale Melodies (Root Shuffling)