G♭ 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 G♭, the scale takes on the specific colour and pitch range of that key - making it especially useful in genres and registers where G♭ is a comfortable tonal centre.
| Notes | G♭ A♭ B𝄫 C♭ D♭ E𝄫 F♭ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1P · 2M · 3m · 4P · 5P · 6m · 7m |
| Step pattern | W H W W H W W |
| Chords in the key | G♭mA♭°B𝄫C♭mD♭mE𝄫F♭ |
Chords in the G♭ Aeolian scale
These are the chords that naturally form on each degree of the scale. Click a chord to open its dedicated page.
G♭ Aeolian on the piano
Improvisation drone · G♭
Loop the root note as a pad to practice improvising over this scale.
On the piano G♭ Aeolian uses three black keys (G♭, A♭ and D♭) and four white. B𝄫, C♭, E𝄫 and F♭ are the white keys you'd normally call A, B, D and E.
G♭ · A♭ · B𝄫 · C♭ · D♭ · E𝄫 · F♭
Try G♭ Aeolian on the virtual piano
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G♭ Aeolian on the guitar
G♭ Aeolian - fr 0–12
G♭ Aeolian on the staff
Notes of the G♭ Aeolian scale
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G♭ | unison1P | 0 | |
| 2 | A♭ | major 2nd2M | 2 | |
| 3 | B𝄫 | minor 3rd3m | 3 | |
| 4 | C♭ | perfect 4th4P | 5 | |
| 5 | D♭ | perfect 5th5P | 7 | |
| 6 | E𝄫 | minor 6th6m | 8 | |
| 7 | F♭ | minor 7th7m | 10 |
What makes G♭ 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 G♭, G♭ Aeolian has E𝄫 where G♭ Dorian has E♭; every other note is shared with G♭ Dorian (G♭ A♭ B𝄫 C♭ D♭ E♭ F♭).
Modes from G♭ Aeolian
Each note of this scale produces a different mode with its own character.
How to use the G♭ Aeolian scale
The diatonic chords of G♭ Aeolian are: i = G♭m, ii° = A♭°, III = B𝄫, iv = C♭m, v = D♭m, VI = E𝄫, VII = F♭. These seven chords belong naturally to the key and are the safest harmonic vocabulary when writing songs in G♭ 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 G♭ 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 G♭ Aeolian
Start with the music described above: listen for G♭ 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 G♭ Aeolian scale?
The G♭ Aeolian scale contains G♭, A♭, B𝄫, C♭, D♭, E𝄫 and F♭.
What is the formula for the G♭ Aeolian scale?
G♭ Aeolian follows the natural minor pattern (W-H-W-W-H-W-W), identical to the natural minor scale.
Is G♭ Aeolian a major or minor scale?
G♭ Aeolian is a aeolian scale. Identical to natural minor - the classic minor mode of the Western system.
What chords belong to the G♭ Aeolian scale?
The diatonic chords of G♭ Aeolian are G♭m, A♭°, B𝄫, C♭m, D♭m, E𝄫, F♭.
Which genres use G♭ 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 G♭ Aeolian scale on the piano?
On the piano G♭ Aeolian uses three black keys (G♭, A♭ and D♭) and four white. B𝄫, C♭, E𝄫 and F♭ are the white keys you'd normally call A, B, D and E.
What is the difference between G♭ Aeolian and G♭ Dorian?
On G♭, G♭ Aeolian has E𝄫 where G♭ Dorian has E♭; every other note is shared with G♭ Dorian (G♭ A♭ B𝄫 C♭ D♭ E♭ F♭).
What is the relative key of G♭ Aeolian?
The relative key of G♭ Aeolian is A Major. It uses the same notes (A B C♯ D E F♯ G♯) starting from A, so the two share a key signature.
How do I practise the G♭ Aeolian scale?
Treat aeolian as natural minor for practice purposes. Compare it to its relative major to lock in the position relationships.