C Aeolian Scale Charts
Explore C Aeolian across the full guitar fretboard and 7 connected positions. Notes: C, D, D#, F, G, G#, A#. Intervals: 1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, b7.
C Aeolian full fretboard chart
C Aeolian uses C, D, D#, F, G, G#, A# across frets 0-15.
| String | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | 4F | 5G | b6G# | b7A# | RC | 2D | b3D# | 4F | 5G | |||||||
| 2B | RC | 2D | b3D# | 4F | 5G | b6G# | b7A# | RC | 2D | |||||||
| 3G | 5G | b6G# | b7A# | RC | 2D | b3D# | 4F | 5G | b6G# | b7A# | ||||||
| 4D | 2D | b3D# | 4F | 5G | b6G# | b7A# | RC | 2D | b3D# | 4F | ||||||
| 5A | b7A# | RC | 2D | b3D# | 4F | 5G | b6G# | b7A# | RC | |||||||
| 6E | 4F | 5G | b6G# | b7A# | RC | 2D | b3D# | 4F | 5G | |||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
String 1: F4 at fret 1 (4), G4 at fret 3 (5), G#4 at fret 4 (b6), A#4 at fret 6 (b7), C5 at fret 8 (root), D5 at fret 10 (2), D#5 at fret 11 (b3), F5 at fret 13 (4), G5 at fret 15 (5).
String 2: C4 at fret 1 (root), D4 at fret 3 (2), D#4 at fret 4 (b3), F4 at fret 6 (4), G4 at fret 8 (5), G#4 at fret 9 (b6), A#4 at fret 11 (b7), C5 at fret 13 (root), D5 at fret 15 (2).
String 3: G3 at fret 0 (5), G#3 at fret 1 (b6), A#3 at fret 3 (b7), C4 at fret 5 (root), D4 at fret 7 (2), D#4 at fret 8 (b3), F4 at fret 10 (4), G4 at fret 12 (5), G#4 at fret 13 (b6), A#4 at fret 15 (b7).
String 4: D3 at fret 0 (2), D#3 at fret 1 (b3), F3 at fret 3 (4), G3 at fret 5 (5), G#3 at fret 6 (b6), A#3 at fret 8 (b7), C4 at fret 10 (root), D4 at fret 12 (2), D#4 at fret 13 (b3), F4 at fret 15 (4).
String 5: A#2 at fret 1 (b7), C3 at fret 3 (root), D3 at fret 5 (2), D#3 at fret 6 (b3), F3 at fret 8 (4), G3 at fret 10 (5), G#3 at fret 11 (b6), A#3 at fret 13 (b7), C4 at fret 15 (root).
String 6: F2 at fret 1 (4), G2 at fret 3 (5), G#2 at fret 4 (b6), A#2 at fret 6 (b7), C3 at fret 8 (root), D3 at fret 10 (2), D#3 at fret 11 (b3), F3 at fret 13 (4), G3 at fret 15 (5).
C Aeolian Position 1 chart
Position 1 covers frets 8-12 for C Aeolian.
| String | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | RC | 2D | b3D# | ||
| 2B | 5G | b6G# | b7A# | ||
| 3G | b3D# | 4F | |||
| 4D | b7A# | RC | 2D | ||
| 5A | 4F | 5G | b6G# | ||
| 6E | RC | 2D | b3D# | ||
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
String 1: C5 at fret 8 (root), D5 at fret 10 (2), D#5 at fret 11 (b3).
String 2: G4 at fret 8 (5), G#4 at fret 9 (b6), A#4 at fret 11 (b7).
String 3: D#4 at fret 8 (b3), F4 at fret 10 (4).
String 4: A#3 at fret 8 (b7), C4 at fret 10 (root), D4 at fret 12 (2).
String 5: F3 at fret 8 (4), G3 at fret 10 (5), G#3 at fret 11 (b6).
String 6: C3 at fret 8 (root), D3 at fret 10 (2), D#3 at fret 11 (b3).
C Aeolian Position 2 chart
Position 2 covers frets 6-10 for C Aeolian.
| String | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | b7A# | RC | 2D | ||
| 2B | 5G | b6G# | |||
| 3G | 2D | b3D# | 4F | ||
| 4D | b6G# | b7A# | RC | ||
| 5A | b3D# | 4F | 5G | ||
| 6E | b7A# | RC | 2D | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
String 1: A#4 at fret 6 (b7), C5 at fret 8 (root), D5 at fret 10 (2).
String 2: G4 at fret 8 (5), G#4 at fret 9 (b6).
String 3: D4 at fret 7 (2), D#4 at fret 8 (b3), F4 at fret 10 (4).
String 4: G#3 at fret 6 (b6), A#3 at fret 8 (b7), C4 at fret 10 (root).
String 5: D#3 at fret 6 (b3), F3 at fret 8 (4), G3 at fret 10 (5).
String 6: A#2 at fret 6 (b7), C3 at fret 8 (root), D3 at fret 10 (2).
C Aeolian Position 3 chart
Position 3 covers frets 4-8 for C Aeolian.
| String | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | b6G# | b7A# | RC | ||
| 2B | 4F | 5G | |||
| 3G | RC | 2D | b3D# | ||
| 4D | 5G | b6G# | b7A# | ||
| 5A | 2D | b3D# | 4F | ||
| 6E | b6G# | b7A# | RC | ||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
String 1: G#4 at fret 4 (b6), A#4 at fret 6 (b7), C5 at fret 8 (root).
String 2: F4 at fret 6 (4), G4 at fret 8 (5).
String 3: C4 at fret 5 (root), D4 at fret 7 (2), D#4 at fret 8 (b3).
String 4: G3 at fret 5 (5), G#3 at fret 6 (b6), A#3 at fret 8 (b7).
String 5: D3 at fret 5 (2), D#3 at fret 6 (b3), F3 at fret 8 (4).
String 6: G#2 at fret 4 (b6), A#2 at fret 6 (b7), C3 at fret 8 (root).
C Aeolian Position 4 chart
Position 4 covers frets 3-7 for C Aeolian.
| String | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | 5G | b6G# | b7A# | ||
| 2B | 2D | b3D# | 4F | ||
| 3G | b7A# | RC | |||
| 4D | 4F | 5G | b6G# | ||
| 5A | RC | 2D | b3D# | ||
| 6E | 5G | b6G# | b7A# | ||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
String 1: G4 at fret 3 (5), G#4 at fret 4 (b6), A#4 at fret 6 (b7).
String 2: D4 at fret 3 (2), D#4 at fret 4 (b3), F4 at fret 6 (4).
String 3: A#3 at fret 3 (b7), C4 at fret 5 (root).
String 4: F3 at fret 3 (4), G3 at fret 5 (5), G#3 at fret 6 (b6).
String 5: C3 at fret 3 (root), D3 at fret 5 (2), D#3 at fret 6 (b3).
String 6: G2 at fret 3 (5), G#2 at fret 4 (b6), A#2 at fret 6 (b7).
C Aeolian Position 5 chart
Position 5 covers frets 1-5 for C Aeolian.
| String | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | 4F | 5G | b6G# | ||
| 2B | 2D | b3D# | |||
| 3G | b6G# | b7A# | RC | ||
| 4D | b3D# | 4F | 5G | ||
| 5A | b7A# | RC | 2D | ||
| 6E | 4F | 5G | b6G# | ||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
String 1: F4 at fret 1 (4), G4 at fret 3 (5), G#4 at fret 4 (b6).
String 2: D4 at fret 3 (2), D#4 at fret 4 (b3).
String 3: G#3 at fret 1 (b6), A#3 at fret 3 (b7), C4 at fret 5 (root).
String 4: D#3 at fret 1 (b3), F3 at fret 3 (4), G3 at fret 5 (5).
String 5: A#2 at fret 1 (b7), C3 at fret 3 (root), D3 at fret 5 (2).
String 6: F2 at fret 1 (4), G2 at fret 3 (5), G#2 at fret 4 (b6).
C Aeolian Position 6 chart
Position 6 covers frets 11-15 for C Aeolian.
| String | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | b3D# | 4F | 5G | ||
| 2B | RC | 2D | |||
| 3G | 5G | b6G# | b7A# | ||
| 4D | 2D | b3D# | 4F | ||
| 5A | b6G# | b7A# | RC | ||
| 6E | b3D# | 4F | 5G | ||
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
String 1: D#5 at fret 11 (b3), F5 at fret 13 (4), G5 at fret 15 (5).
String 2: C5 at fret 13 (root), D5 at fret 15 (2).
String 3: G4 at fret 12 (5), G#4 at fret 13 (b6), A#4 at fret 15 (b7).
String 4: D4 at fret 12 (2), D#4 at fret 13 (b3), F4 at fret 15 (4).
String 5: G#3 at fret 11 (b6), A#3 at fret 13 (b7), C4 at fret 15 (root).
String 6: D#3 at fret 11 (b3), F3 at fret 13 (4), G3 at fret 15 (5).
C Aeolian Position 7 chart
Position 7 covers frets 9-13 for C Aeolian.
| String | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1E | 2D | b3D# | 4F | ||
| 2B | b7A# | RC | |||
| 3G | 4F | 5G | b6G# | ||
| 4D | RC | 2D | b3D# | ||
| 5A | 5G | b6G# | b7A# | ||
| 6E | 2D | b3D# | 4F | ||
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
String 1: D5 at fret 10 (2), D#5 at fret 11 (b3), F5 at fret 13 (4).
String 2: A#4 at fret 11 (b7), C5 at fret 13 (root).
String 3: F4 at fret 10 (4), G4 at fret 12 (5), G#4 at fret 13 (b6).
String 4: C4 at fret 10 (root), D4 at fret 12 (2), D#4 at fret 13 (b3).
String 5: G3 at fret 10 (5), G#3 at fret 11 (b6), A#3 at fret 13 (b7).
String 6: D3 at fret 10 (2), D#3 at fret 11 (b3), F3 at fret 13 (4).
Aeolian scale essentials
- Interval formula
- 1 · 2 · b3 · 4 · 5 · b6 · b7
- Characteristic tones
- b6
Practice the C Aeolian sound
- Say and play the scale: Play C → D → D# → F → G → G# → A# → C up and back down, naming the degrees 1 → 2 → b3 → 4 → 5 → b6 → b7 → 1 as you go.
- Hear its defining tones: pause on G# (b6) before landing on C. Listen for how those characteristic tones color the phrase.
- Connect the positions: Work through all 7 position charts. Start in Position 1 (frets 8–12), then repeat a short phrase from the root in each shape. Use the full fretboard chart to find the next C as you move between positions.
Continue with this scale
Take Aeolian into the matching course and practice resources.