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