Aeolian mode

Aeolian mode

The Aeolian mode is a musical mode or diatonic scale.

An Aeolian mode formed part of the music theory of ancient Greece, based around the relative natural scale in A (that is, the same as playing all the 'white notes' of a piano from A to A). Greek theory called this simple scale the Hypodorian mode, and the Aeolian and Locrian modes must have formed different (perhaps chromatic) variations of this.

The term "Aeolian mode" fell into disuse in medieval Europe, as church music based itself around eight musical modes: the relative natural scales in D, E, F and G, each with their authentic and plagal counterparts.

In 1547 Heinrich Glarean published his "Dodecachordon". His premise had as its central idea the existence of twelve diatonic modes rather than eight. It seems that popular folk music used the additional modes, but they did not form part of the official church repertoire. Glarean added "Aeolian" as the name of the "new" ninth mode: the relative natural mode in A with the perfect fifth as its dominant, reciting note or "tenor". The tenth mode, the plagal version of the Aeolian mode, Glarean called "Hypoaeolian" ("under Aeolian"), based on the same relative scale, but with the minor third as its tenor, and having a melodic range from a perfect fourth below the tonic to a perfect fifth above it.

As polyphonic music replaced mediaeval monophonic church music, the "folk" modes added by Glarean became the basis of the minor/major division of classical European music, the Aeolian mode forming the natural minor mode. However, it would not be correct to refer to any piece in a now-traditional minor key as being in the Aeolian mode, which would imply that the style of the piece was modal, which is usually not the case with music in a minor key as understood today. In particular, the main (but probably not only) difference would be that the minor-key piece would frequently use the raised 7th degree as its leading note, particularly in the use of dominant-7th harmony, whereas the Aeolian piece would rarely or never use such a raised leading note, and its dominant chord would be a minor triad or minor triad plus minor 7th.

The Aeolian mode is the sixth mode of the major scale and has the "formula" 1, 2, music|flat3, 4, 5, music|flat6, music|flat7. Its tonic chord is the submediant minor triad in the relative major key. For example, if the Aeolian mode is used in its all-white-note pitch based on A, this would be an A-minor triad, which would be the submediant in the relative major key of C major.

As the Aeolian mode forms the natural minor scale (also known as the descending melodic minor scale), it is among the most frequently used diatonic modes in western music. Tunes entirely in the Aeolian mode (i.e., those that do not also use the ascending melodic minor scale) are rare in classical music. However, they are common in many folk traditions, including Jewish and Israeli folk music, and the Israeli national anthem Hatikvah.

Aeolian "flat 5"

This chromatically-altered mode is also known as "Locrian sharp 2", Mode VI of the melodic minor scale, or the half diminished scale. It is frequently used in jazz and rock. The latter term is generally avoided by musicians, to avoid confusion with the diminished scales (see octatonic), and the half-diminished seventh chord.

ee also

*Aeolian harmony
*Borrowed chord
*Mode mixture

External links

* [http://gosk.com/scales/natural-minor-scale-for-guitar.php Aeolian mode for guitar] at GOSK.com
* [http://www.guitarroadmap.com/?mode=Aeolian&key=9&Submit=Show+Scale Aeolian Mode at Guitar Roadmap]


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  • AEolian mode — AEolian [AE]*o li*an, a. [L. Aeolius, Gr. ?.] 1. Of or pertaining to [AE]olia or [AE]olis, in Asia Minor, colonized by the Greeks, or to its inhabitants; [ae]olic; as, the [AE]olian dialect. [1913 Webster] 2. Pertaining to [AE]olus, the mythic… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Aeolian mode — Music. an authentic church mode represented on the white keys of a keyboard instrument by an ascending scale from A to A. * * * …   Universalium

  • Aeolian mode — [i: əʊlɪən] noun Music the mode represented by the natural diatonic scale A–A (containing a minor 3rd, 6th, and 7th). Origin C18: from L. Aeolius, from Aeolis (an ancient coastal district of Asia Minor) + an …   English new terms dictionary

  • aeolian mode — n. Mus. the mode represented by the natural diatonic scale A A. Etymology: L Aeolius f. Aeolis in Asia Minor f. Gk Aiolis …   Useful english dictionary

  • Aeolian mode — /iˌoʊliən ˈmoʊd/ (say ee.ohleeuhn mohd) noun a scale, represented by the white keys of a keyboard instrument, beginning on A …  

  • Aeolian — may refer to: * things related to Æolus, the Greek God of wind * Aeolian harp, a harp that is played by the wind * Aeolian processes, wind generated geologic processes * Aeolians, an ancient Greek tribe said to be descended from Æolus * Aeolian… …   Wikipedia

  • Aeolian harmony — [Björnberg (1985).] is harmony or chord progression created from chords of the Aeolian mode. Commonly known as the natural minor scale, it allows for the construction of the following triads (three note chords built from thirds), in popular music …   Wikipedia

  • mode — Synonyms and related words: Aeolian mode, Aristotelian sorites, Dorian mode, Goclenian sorites, Greek modes, Hindu mode, Indian mode, Locrian mode, Lydian mode, MO, Phrygian mode, Platonic form, Platonic idea, SOP, aesthetic form, affectation,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • AEolian — [AE]*o li*an, a. [L. Aeolius, Gr. ?.] 1. Of or pertaining to [AE]olia or [AE]olis, in Asia Minor, colonized by the Greeks, or to its inhabitants; [ae]olic; as, the [AE]olian dialect. [1913 Webster] 2. Pertaining to [AE]olus, the mythic god of the …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • AEolian attachment — AEolian [AE]*o li*an, a. [L. Aeolius, Gr. ?.] 1. Of or pertaining to [AE]olia or [AE]olis, in Asia Minor, colonized by the Greeks, or to its inhabitants; [ae]olic; as, the [AE]olian dialect. [1913 Webster] 2. Pertaining to [AE]olus, the mythic… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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