The Natural Minor Scale - Aeolian Mode 75 -
There is only one major scale but there are three types of minor scales - Natural Minor,
Harmonic Minor, and Melodic Minor. In this lesson we will focus on the Natural Minor scale,
which is a seven-note scale and is also called Pure Minor or the Aeolian mode.
The Aeolian mode is the sixth mode of the major scale and utilizes all the notes in a major
scale starting from the sixth degree. The Aeolian mode utilizes the scale degrees of 1, 2, b3, 4,
5, b6,and b7. The minor pentatonic scale takes its’ five notes from the Natural Minor scale.
Natural Minor adds the 2nd and b6 to the Minor Pentatonic scale.
You can play this scale over most minor type chords when treating each chord as a separate
event. You can also utilize Aeolian mode over ALL the chords in a minor key progression
unless the four chord is major, the two chord is minor, or there is a major V chord.
KEY POINT: When playing over all the chords in a minor key progression, you can use
the AEOLIAN mode over ALL the chords, UNLESS the IV chord is major or the II chord
is minor - then use the DORIAN mode. (Exception - If there is a V major chord then use
Harmonic Minor over just that V chord)For example, if you want to solo over a Am7 chord try A Aeolian. Remember that Aeolian is the
6
th
mode of the major scale. So as taught in previous modal lessons you want to convert to
what major scale’s 6
th
note is a A. The answer is C major. If you play a C major scale you will
notice that its sixth note in the scale, or 6 th, is an A note. So A Aeolian contains all the same
notes as the C major scale, you are just starting on and emphasizing the A notes.
Note in the below illustration that if we draw out the C major scale its 6
th
note is A. Then we
draw out A Aeolian. Notice for both scales there are no sharps or flats, which is consistent in
the key of C major.
Scale degrees 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
C major scale C D E F G A B C D E F G
6 th mode – A Aeolian A B C D E F G A
Let’s try another example. There is an Em chord in a progression we want to solo over using
the E Aeolian mode. So we have to convert to what major scales’s 6
th
note is an E note. The
answer is G major. The sixth degree of an G major scale is an E. Check the illustration below
and you will see that E Aeolian mode contains the same notes as the G major scale. Notice for
both scales below there is only one sharp, the F#, which is consistent in the key of G major. So
to play E Aeolian just play all your G major scales but start on and emphasize the E notes.
Scale degrees 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
G major scale G A B C D E F# G A B C D
6 th mode –E Aeolian E F# G A B C D E