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 | B♭mC°D♭E♭mFmG♭A♭ |
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 five black keys (B♭, D♭, E♭, G♭ and A♭) and two 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 = B♭m, ii° = C°, III = D♭, iv = E♭m, v = Fm, 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 B♭m, C°, D♭, E♭m, Fm, 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 five black keys (B♭, D♭, E♭, G♭ and A♭) and two 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.