Aeolian Mode

Another Name for Natural Minor

The natural minor scale you already know has another name: Aeolian.

Aeolian is the sixth church mode — the scale you get by playing a major scale starting on its 6th degree. Starting from A: A-B-C-D-E-F-G. Same notes as C major, just centered on A instead of C.

The pattern is W-H-W-W-H-W-W — the pattern of the natural minor scale.

Why the extra name? Because once you know more modes, 'Aeolian' places natural minor next to Dorian, Phrygian, and Locrian in a shared vocabulary. The scale is the same; the naming lets you talk about it in modal context.

A Aeolian Scale

Play the A Aeolian scale ascending — the same notes as C major, just starting on A.

Play A Aeolian

• Play the A Aeolian scale ascending and descending
• These are the same notes as A natural minor — only the name is new
• Feel A as the tonal center