Aeolian mode
The Aeolian mode is the 6th mode of the major scale. It’s equivalent to the natural minor scale.
Its scale degrees are: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 8
Its intervals are: W H W W H W W
It’s a “minor” mode.
Descriptors:
- Sad
- Dark
- Heavy
- Folk-like
- English countryside
Notable chords: bVI, IVm, bVII, Vm
Examples
According to ScoreClub:
- Kijé’s Lament (from Lieutenant Kijé Suite) – Sergei Prokofiev
- The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends – Colin Towns
- Walking in the Air (from The Snowman) – Howard Blake
- Romanza (from Symphony No.5) – Ralph Vaughan Williams
- Pohjola’s Daughter – Jean Sibelius
- Fur Alina – Arvo part