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