Songs that use the Aeolian mode

Aeolian is the 6th mode of the major scale. It is also a scale in its own right, often referred to as the "Natural Minor Scale". Aeolian has a particular solemn, serious, mournful sound to it and is perhaps the most common minor tonality that you will encounter in pop and rock music.

And, an extra special thanks goes to Douglas Lind, Vidad Flowers, Ivan Pang, Waylon Fairbanks, Jon Dye, Austin Russell, Christopher Ryan, Toot & Paul Peijzel, the channel’s Patreon saints! 😇

[thedankestmemes]

David, I cannot express how much your channel has changed my life. I’ve always wanted to become a musician, but being from a small town with no music program and no access to instruments, I thought I’d missed my opportunity long ago. Watching your videos for the past few months has reinvigorated my passion for music, and in response I purchased my first guitar. Though I’m definitely a beginner, watching the way you break down these complex concepts has made musical theory approachable and understandable, whereas before I found it too intimidating to attempt to learn. You are an excellent teacher, and the hard work you have gone through to make these videos available to learners like me (for free!) is greatly appreciated. I wish you success in all your future endeavors. Thank you, and keep rocking!

[MrSpedo]

I usually prefer harmonic minor. I just love the amount of tension I can create in it.

[thepostapocalyptictrio]

Sultan of Swing has the (in)famous "Andalucian cadence" too. You should make a video on that one. It's everywhere.

[mirondelpero]

That last piece being 5/4 is just chef’s kiss

[BrotherhoodEssentials]

Duuuude the piece you composed is straight fire

[sourisvoleur]

I love your composition at the end of this. It felt like rain.

[TheBuglemouthBass]

Sir, you are a gift to the online world. Your videos are fascinating and I especially enjoy these modally focused ones. Keep doing what you do. You are an incredibly talented musician and teacher. I wish YouTube had been around when I was learning the modes as videos like this are far more effective than just pattern memorization (guitarist speaking here). You explain the hows and whys in an easy to follow way.

[bbqsnag]

That 5/4 baseline in your song at the end is really cool.

[Novemberbridges]

Dude you have no idea what your channel means to me. I am a amateur musician and i have learned a lot of music theory without having any kind of formal lessons, but your channel is like my home. A resting place. I found you out from Adam Neely's video and all i do is wait for your next video. Please never change!

[cakemartyr]

Thank you very much for explaining *why" things sound how they do. I particularly like your tune at the end.

[jeffgoblue]

Great video as always.

One suggestion (and maybe this is just me, so take it with a grain of salt). I find that scale and modal examples (when you’re showing the scales on screen) are easier to process as a learner when you use C as the base. It becomes really obvious which scale degrees are altered (as compared to major).

[llll-lkmm]

the gap between the 7th and 8th being longer helped so much with understanding how it wants to resolve. great editing on your part.

[weepingscorpion]

I remember using the term Æolian cadence in high school. It'd usually be about a song which used the chord progression bVI - bVII - i, where as a "normal" cadence would be IV - V - I.

[FarhanAmin]

Lovely video as always :D Especially heart the song at the end that you made. I will share this vid with my amigos. One small observation. At 8:00 we have Jolene by Dolly Parton. If I am not mistaken, it doesn't _exactly_ use the Natural Minor mode but a subset of it, i.e., there is no sixth flat note in the song.
As an aside, if anyone is interested in sampling the Indian versions of the minor scales, the approximate equivalents for the natural are called Jaunpuri and Darbari while that for the harmonic goes by Keervani.

[radiozelaza]

Rick Beato often uses the term "Aeolian" to describe frequent use of the minor sixth in a melody or chords, which indeed gives the sound a distinct flavor as compared to major sixth minor scales like Dorian or Melodic

[GigaBrowser]

You're an awesome teacher. Glad you get to do what you love

[Quant-Beat]

You are doing an outstanding job illustrating the scales and modes with famous examples and intelligent own analysis. No one else has managed to do this anywhere what I have come over. Brilliant!

[TheMister]

It's funny... Many times when I think I'm using the natural minor scale, I'm actually using Dorian. I just "naturally" raise the 6th.

[Mary-bqyw]

I love your song at the end. Beautiful.

[bradhickox]

Every conversation surrounding the Beatles always seems to include some reference to them not really knowing anything about music theory. Which always kind of blows my mind.