A♯ Aeolian at a glance
Aeolian is just natural minor under a different name. It dominates pop, rock and folk in minor keys. Reach for it any time you want a warm, melancholic mood. Built on the root A♯, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where A♯ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | A♯ B♯ C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2M · 3m · 4P · 5P · 6m · 7m |
| Step pattern | W H W W H W W |
| Chords in the key | A♯mB♯°C♯D♯mE♯mF♯G♯ |
Chords in the A♯ Aeolian scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
A♯ Aeolian on the piano
Improvisation drone · A♯
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano A♯ Aeolian uses five black keys (A♯, C♯, D♯, F♯ and G♯) and two white. B♯ and E♯ are the white keys you'd normally call C and F.
A♯ · B♯ · C♯ · D♯ · E♯ · F♯ · G♯
Play A♯ Aeolian on the online piano
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A♯ Aeolian on the guitar
A♯ Aeolian - fr 0–12
A♯ Aeolian on the staff
Notes of the A♯ Aeolian scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A♯ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | B♯ | major 2nd2M | 2 | |
| 3 | C♯ | minor 3rd3m | 3 | |
| 4 | D♯ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | E♯ | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | F♯ | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | G♯ | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes A♯ Aeolian different
Aeolian is the modal name for natural minor: same notes, same intervals. It's the sixth mode of the major scale, so it shares its notes with the major scale a minor third above its root. Two notes place it among its neighbours: the minor sixth separates it from Dorian, and the major second separates it from Phrygian. Its i, iv and v chords are all minor, with major chords on ♭III, ♭VI and ♭VII, the set behind the ♭VI, ♭VII, i cadence of rock and film music. On A♯, A♯ Aeolian has F♯ where A♯ Dorian has F𝄪; every other note is shared with A♯ Dorian (A♯ B♯ C♯ D♯ E♯ F𝄪 G♯).
Modes from A♯ Aeolian
Each note of this scale produces a different mode with its own character.
How to use the A♯ Aeolian scale
The diatonic chords of A♯ Aeolian are: i = A♯m, ii° = B♯°, III = C♯, iv = D♯m, v = E♯m, VI = F♯, VII = G♯. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in A♯ Aeolian. Each one in the chord table on this page opens its own diagram and progressions.
Aeolian is just natural minor under a different name. It dominates pop, rock and folk in minor keys. Reach for it any time you want a warm, melancholic mood.
Practice tips
Treat aeolian as natural minor for practice purposes. Compare it to its relative major to lock in the position relationships.
Formula & step pattern
The A♯ Aeolian scale follows the natural minor pattern (W-H-W-W-H-W-W), identical to the natural minor scale. Step pattern: W - H - W - W - H - W - W. Intervals from the root: 1P · 2M · 3m · 4P · 5P · 6m · 7m. Memorising the formula lets you transpose the scale to any other root note quickly.
Where you will hear A♯ Aeolian
Start with the music described above: listen for A♯ Aeolian in it and transcribe a few short phrases by ear. It's the quickest way to learn how the scale sounds.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the A♯ Aeolian scale?
The A♯ Aeolian scale contains A♯, B♯, C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯ and G♯.
What is the formula for the A♯ Aeolian scale?
A♯ Aeolian follows the natural minor pattern (W-H-W-W-H-W-W), identical to the natural minor scale.
Is A♯ Aeolian a major or minor scale?
A♯ Aeolian is a aeolian scale. Identical to natural minor - the classic minor mode of the Western system.
What chords belong to the A♯ Aeolian scale?
The diatonic chords of A♯ Aeolian are A♯m, B♯°, C♯, D♯m, E♯m, F♯, G♯.
Which genres use A♯ Aeolian?
Aeolian is just natural minor under a different name. It dominates pop, rock and folk in minor keys. Reach for it any time you want a warm, melancholic mood.
How do you play the A♯ Aeolian scale on the piano?
On the piano A♯ Aeolian uses five black keys (A♯, C♯, D♯, F♯ and G♯) and two white. B♯ and E♯ are the white keys you'd normally call C and F.
What is the difference between A♯ Aeolian and A♯ Dorian?
On A♯, A♯ Aeolian has F♯ where A♯ Dorian has F𝄪; every other note is shared with A♯ Dorian (A♯ B♯ C♯ D♯ E♯ F𝄪 G♯).
What is the relative key of A♯ Aeolian?
The relative key of A♯ Aeolian is C♯ Major. It uses the same notes (C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯ B♯) starting from C♯, so the two share a key signature.
How do I practise the A♯ Aeolian scale?
Treat aeolian as natural minor for practice purposes. Compare it to its relative major to lock in the position relationships.