Mode guide
Aeolian Mode: formula, chords, and sound
Aeolian is the natural minor mode. Learn its formula, hear A Aeolian, and play a loop using its i, VI, III, and VII chords.
The short answer
Aeolian Mode is the natural minor mode
Aeolian is the reference natural-minor sound. Unlike Dorian it has a minor sixth, and unlike harmonic minor it keeps a minor seventh.
- Example tonic
- A
- Home chord
- A minor
- Characteristic degree
- minor 6th
01
Hear A Aeolian
F natural gives A minor its minor sixth. The Am–F movement makes that scale degree easy to identify inside the VI chord. The characteristic note in this example is F.
A Aeolian scale
A – B – C – D – E – F – G – A
Sound loads when you first play.
02
Diatonic triads
These seven chords use only notes from the mode. The first chord is the tonal home.
| 1 | 2 | ♭3 | 4 | 5 | ♭6 | ♭7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Am | Bdim | C | Dm | Em | F | G |
03
Practice loop: i–♭VI–♭III–♭VII
This is a listening exercise, not a claim about the most common progression. Keep returning your ear to A minor.
Am – F – C – G
i–♭VI–♭III–♭VII in A Aeolian.
Sound loads when you first play.
How to make the mode sound clear
- Pause on F before returning to A.
- Compare F with F♯ to hear Aeolian become Dorian.
- Use G natural first, then G♯ to compare natural and harmonic minor.