Aeolian Mode

The Aeolian mode on the guitar is the official music theory name for the natural minor scale, delivering a sad, dramatic, and emotionally intense sound. It is the sixth mode of the major scale, built by flattening the third, sixth, and seventh notes of a standard major scale (1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, b7). Guitarists rely heavily on this mode for crafting epic rock ballads, heavy metal riffs, and melancholic pop melodies. Because it contains the exact same notes as its relative major scale, it provides a highly familiar fretboard layout that allows players to easily transition from bright solos to dark, moody phrasing.