B 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 B, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where B is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | B C♯ D E F♯ G A |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2M · 3m · 4P · 5P · 6m · 7m |
| Step pattern | W H W W H W W |
| Chords in the key | BmC♯°DEmF♯mGA |
Chords in the B Aeolian scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
B Aeolian on the piano
Improvisation drone · B
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano B Aeolian uses two black keys (C♯ and F♯) and five white.
B · C♯ · D · E · F♯ · G · A
Play B Aeolian on the online piano
Free, in your browser: play with the mouse, your computer keyboard or a USB MIDI keyboard. No sign-up.
B Aeolian on the guitar
B Aeolian - fr 0–12
B Aeolian on the staff
Notes of the B Aeolian scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | C♯ | major 2nd2M | 2 | |
| 3 | D | minor 3rd3m | 3 | |
| 4 | E | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | F♯ | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | G | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | A | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes B 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 B, B Aeolian has G where B Dorian has G♯; every other note is shared with B Dorian (B C♯ D E F♯ G♯ A).
Modes from B Aeolian
Each note of this scale produces a different mode with its own character.
How to use the B Aeolian scale
The diatonic chords of B Aeolian are: i = Bm, ii° = C♯°, III = D, iv = Em, v = F♯m, VI = G, VII = A. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in B 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 B 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 B Aeolian
Start with the music described above: listen for B 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 B Aeolian scale?
The B Aeolian scale contains B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G and A.
What is the formula for the B Aeolian scale?
B Aeolian follows the natural minor pattern (W-H-W-W-H-W-W), identical to the natural minor scale.
Is B Aeolian a major or minor scale?
B Aeolian is a aeolian scale. Identical to natural minor - the classic minor mode of the Western system.
What chords belong to the B Aeolian scale?
The diatonic chords of B Aeolian are Bm, C♯°, D, Em, F♯m, G, A.
Which genres use B 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 B Aeolian scale on the piano?
On the piano B Aeolian uses two black keys (C♯ and F♯) and five white.
What is the difference between B Aeolian and B Dorian?
On B, B Aeolian has G where B Dorian has G♯; every other note is shared with B Dorian (B C♯ D E F♯ G♯ A).
What is the relative key of B Aeolian?
The relative key of B Aeolian is D Major. It uses the same notes (D E F♯ G A B C♯) starting from D, so the two share a key signature.
How do I practise the B Aeolian scale?
Treat aeolian as natural minor for practice purposes. Compare it to its relative major to lock in the position relationships.