Aeolian mode is another name for which scale type?

Aeolian mode is another name for which scale type?

• A. harmonic minor scale
• B. natural minor scale
• C. major scale
• D. melodic minor scale

Answer: (B)

The concept here is recognizing modal names for scales. Aeolian corresponds to the natural minor scale. It’s the mode you get when you take a major scale and start on its sixth degree, sharing the same key signature as its relative major. For example, starting on A in C major gives A–B–C–D–E–F–G–A, the natural minor pattern with the interval sequence whole, half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole. This differs from the harmonic minor, which raises the seventh degree, and from the melodic minor, which raises the sixth and seventh when ascending (and then reverts). The major scale is Ionian, not Aeolian. So Aeolian is best identified as the natural minor scale.

The concept here is recognizing modal names for scales. Aeolian corresponds to the natural minor scale. It’s the mode you get when you take a major scale and start on its sixth degree, sharing the same key signature as its relative major. For example, starting on A in C major gives A–B–C–D–E–F–G–A, the natural minor pattern with the interval sequence whole, half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole. This differs from the harmonic minor, which raises the seventh degree, and from the melodic minor, which raises the sixth and seventh when ascending (and then reverts). The major scale is Ionian, not Aeolian. So Aeolian is best identified as the natural minor scale.