A-flat aeolian 7th chords

The Solution below shows the A-flat aeolian mode 7th chords, (i⁷, ii^ø7, III⁷, iv⁷, v⁷, VI⁷, VII⁷) on a piano, with mp3 and midi audio.

The Lesson steps then explain the 7th chord construction from this mode, and how to name the quality of each chord based on note intervals.

For a quick summary of this topic, and to see the chord quality chart for this mode, have a look at Mode chord.

Solution - 7 parts

1. A-flat aeolian chord i⁷

The A-flat aeolian chord i⁷ is the Ab min 7 chord, and contains the notes Ab, Cb, Eb, and Gb.

This tonic 7th chords root / starting note is the 1st note (or scale degree) of the A-flat aeolian mode.

The roman numeral for number 1 is 'i', and is used to indicate this is the 1st chord in the mode. It is in lower case to denote that the chord is a minor chord.

2. A-flat aeolian chord ii^ø7

The A-flat aeolian chord ii^ø7 is the Bb half-dim7 chord, and contains the notes Bb, Db, Fb, and Ab.

This supertonic 7th chords root / starting note is the 2nd note (or scale degree) of the A-flat aeolian mode.

The roman numeral for number 2 is 'ii', and is used to indicate this is the 2nd chord in the mode. Just like a minor chord, the half-diminished 7th chord is constructed using a minor third interval, so the roman numeral is shown in lower case.

The half-diminished symbol '^ø' is placed after the roman numerals to indicate this is a half-diminished 7th chord.

3. A-flat aeolian chord III⁷

The A-flat aeolian chord III⁷ is the Cb maj 7 chord, and contains the notes Cb, Eb, Gb, and Bb.

This mediant 7th chords root / starting note is the 3rd note (or scale degree) of the A-flat aeolian mode.

The roman numeral for number 3 is 'III', and is used to indicate this is the 3rd chord in the mode. It is in upper case to denote that the chord is a major chord.

4. A-flat aeolian chord iv⁷

The A-flat aeolian chord iv⁷ is the Db min 7 chord, and contains the notes Db, Fb, Ab, and Cb.

This subdominant 7th chords root / starting note is the 4th note (or scale degree) of the A-flat aeolian mode.

The roman numeral for number 4 is 'iv', and is used to indicate this is the 4th chord in the mode. It is in lower case to denote that the chord is a minor chord.

5. A-flat aeolian chord v⁷

The A-flat aeolian chord v⁷ is the Eb min 7 chord, and contains the notes Eb, Gb, Bb, and Db.

This dominant 7th chords root / starting note is the 5th note (or scale degree) of the A-flat aeolian mode.

The roman numeral for number 5 is 'v', and is used to indicate this is the 5th chord in the mode. It is in lower case to denote that the chord is a minor chord.

6. A-flat aeolian chord VI⁷

The A-flat aeolian chord VI⁷ is the Fb maj 7 chord, and contains the notes Fb, Ab, Cb, and Eb.

This submediant 7th chords root / starting note is the 6th note (or scale degree) of the A-flat aeolian mode.

The roman numeral for number 6 is 'VI', and is used to indicate this is the 6th chord in the mode. It is in upper case to denote that the chord is a major chord.

7. A-flat aeolian chord VII⁷

The A-flat aeolian chord VII⁷ is the Gb dom 7 chord, and contains the notes Gb, Bb, Db, and Fb.

This subtonic 7th chords root / starting note is the 7th note (or scale degree) of the A-flat aeolian mode.

The roman numeral for number 7 is 'VII', and is used to indicate this is the 7th chord in the mode. Just like a major chord, the dominant 7th chord is constructed using a major third interval,so the roman numeral is shown in upper case.

Lesson steps

1. Piano key note names

The white keys are named using the alphabetic letters A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, which is a pattern that repeats up the piano keyboard.

Every white or black key could have a flat(b) or sharp(#) accidental name, depending on how that note is used. In a later step, if sharp or flat notes are used, the exact accidental names will be chosen.

The audio files below play every note shown on the piano above, so middle C (marked with an orange line at the bottom) is the 2nd note heard.

2. A-flat aeolian mode notes

The piano keyboard below contains the notes of the A-flat aeolian mode.

Starting from the 1st mode note, each lesson step below will take each note in turn and construct a 7th chord using that note as the root / starting note of that chord.

The 7th chord will be built using only the notes of the mode we are interested in.

Identifying the 4 notes in the chord

7th chords are built using the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th notes of a mode, so the first 7th chord below will constructed a chord using notes Ab, Cb, Eb and Gb.

The second 7th chord below will repeat this, but this time starting on the 2nd note, so its notes will be Bb, Db, Fb and Ab - ie. the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th positions relative to that 2nd root note.

This pattern is repeated for all 7 notes in the mode, resulting in 7 seventh chords.

Identifying the chord quality

Although the above method identifies each 7th chord notes from the mode used, it does not identify the complete chord name including its quality.

Should each 7th chord that we build be called diminished, half-diminished, minorminor-major, dominant, major, augmented, or augmented-major ?

Every 7th chord must have one of these quality names.

To decide the name the chord quality, each step below will use note intervals to calculate how many half-tones / semitones / piano keys between the root and the 3rd, 5th and 7th notes.).

Taken together, the combination of the 3rd, 5th and 7th note intervals will define the complete 7th chord quality name.

The steps below will show how this works for each 7th chord in turn, but in practice it might just be easier to memorize the triad quality table in the Mode chord summary for each mode type.

3. 1st 7th chord in A-flat aeolian mode

Identifying the 4 notes in the chord

The table below shows the A-flat aeolian mode, ordered to show the 1st note as the first column in the table.

To identify the 7th chord note names, use the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th columns / scale degrees, which are notes Ab, Cb, Eb, and Gb.

Identifying the chord quality

To identify the 7th chord quality that has these notes, begin by counting the number of half-tones / semitones between the root and each of the notes.

For the 3rd interval (note 2 on the diagram) the distance between Ab and Cb is 3 half-tones.

Now look at the complete Note interval table, and identify the note interval that has a distance of 3 half-tones (first column), and with an interval no. of 3 (last column).

The note interval name for the 3rd note / scale degree is therefore minor, also called m3 for short. More details of this interval are at Ab-min-3rd.

Repeating this for the 5th note / scale degree, the distance between Ab and Eb is 7 half-tones, and the note interval name is perfect (P5). More details of this interval are at Ab-perf-5th.

Again the 7th note / scale degree, the distance between Ab and Gb is 10 half-tones, and the note interval name is minor (m7). More details of this interval are at Ab-min-7th.

Finally, we have the name of the three note intervals of this 7th chord, and can now lookup the name of the 7th chord quality having these intervals.

Looking at the Seventh chord table, the name of the 7th chord quality having minor(m3), perfect(P5) and minor(m7) note intervals is minor 7th.

And so the complete 7th chord Name prefixes the root note, Ab, onto this quality, giving us the Ab min 7 chord.

Scale chord names using a,b and c notation

The chord symbol i could be followed by the letter a to indicate that it is Ab minor 7th chord in root position (ie not inverted) - A-flat aeolian mode chord ia.

Instead, i could be followed by the letter b to indicate that it is Ab minor 7th chord in 1st inversion - A-flat aeolian mode chord ib.

Letter c could be used to indicate that it is Ab minor 7th chord in 2nd inversion - A-flat aeolian mode chord ic.

Finally, letter d could be used to indicate that it is Ab minor 7th chord in 3rd inversion - A-flat aeolian mode chord id.

Scale chord names using figured bass notation

In place of the a-d symbols above, figured bass symbols could be used to indicate chord positions after i:

So in this key, i7 refers to the Ab minor 7th chord in root position.

For 7th chord inversions, i65 refers to the Ab minor 7th chord in 1st inversion, i43 refers to the Ab minor 7th chord in 2nd inversion, and i2 refers to the Ab minor 7th chord in 3rd inversion.

The next scale chord

The next step will need to calculate the 7th chord whose root / starting note is next mode note.

To do this, the first column we used in this step, Ab, will be moved to the final column of the table.

4. 2nd 7th chord in A-flat aeolian mode

Identifying the 4 notes in the chord

The table below shows the A-flat aeolian mode, ordered to show the 2nd note as the first column in the table.

To identify the 7th chord note names, use the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th columns / scale degrees, which are notes Bb, Db, Fb, and Ab.

Identifying the chord quality

To identify the 7th chord quality that has these notes, begin by counting the number of half-tones / semitones between the root and each of the notes.

For the 3rd interval (note 2 on the diagram) the distance between Bb and Db is 3 half-tones.

Now look at the complete Note interval table, and identify the note interval that has a distance of 3 half-tones (first column), and with an interval no. of 3 (last column).

The note interval name for the 3rd note / scale degree is therefore minor, also called m3 for short. More details of this interval are at Bb-min-3rd.

Repeating this for the 5th note / scale degree, the distance between Bb and Fb is 6 half-tones, and the note interval name is diminished (d5). More details of this interval are at Bb-dim-5th.

Again the 7th note / scale degree, the distance between Bb and Ab is 10 half-tones, and the note interval name is minor (m7). More details of this interval are at Bb-min-7th.

Finally, we have the name of the three note intervals of this 7th chord, and can now lookup the name of the 7th chord quality having these intervals.

Looking at the Seventh chord table, the name of the 7th chord quality having minor(m3), diminished(d5) and minor(m7) note intervals is half-diminished 7th.

And so the complete 7th chord Name prefixes the root note, Bb, onto this quality, giving us the Bb half-dim7 chord.

Scale chord names using a,b and c notation

The chord symbol ii^ø could be followed by the letter a to indicate that it is Bb half-diminished 7th chord in root position (ie not inverted) - A-flat aeolian mode chord ii^øa.

Instead, ii^ø could be followed by the letter b to indicate that it is Bb half-diminished 7th chord in 1st inversion - A-flat aeolian mode chord ii^øb.

Letter c could be used to indicate that it is Bb half-diminished 7th chord in 2nd inversion - A-flat aeolian mode chord ii^øc.

Finally, letter d could be used to indicate that it is Bb half-diminished 7th chord in 3rd inversion - A-flat aeolian mode chord ii^ød.

Scale chord names using figured bass notation

In place of the a-d symbols above, figured bass symbols could be used to indicate chord positions after ii^ø:

So in this key, ii^ø7 refers to the Bb half-diminished 7th chord in root position.

For 7th chord inversions, ii^ø65 refers to the Bb half-diminished 7th chord in 1st inversion, ii^ø43 refers to the Bb half-diminished 7th chord in 2nd inversion, and ii^ø2 refers to the Bb half-diminished 7th chord in 3rd inversion.

The next scale chord

The next step will need to calculate the 7th chord whose root / starting note is next mode note.

To do this, the first column we used in this step, Bb, will be moved to the final column of the table.

5. 3rd 7th chord in A-flat aeolian mode

Identifying the 4 notes in the chord

The table below shows the A-flat aeolian mode, ordered to show the 3rd note as the first column in the table.

To identify the 7th chord note names, use the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th columns / scale degrees, which are notes Cb, Eb, Gb, and Bb.

Identifying the chord quality

To identify the 7th chord quality that has these notes, begin by counting the number of half-tones / semitones between the root and each of the notes.

For the 3rd interval (note 2 on the diagram) the distance between Cb and Eb is 4 half-tones.

Now look at the complete Note interval table, and identify the note interval that has a distance of 3 half-tones (first column), and with an interval no. of 3 (last column).

The note interval name for the 3rd note / scale degree is therefore major, also called M3 for short. More details of this interval are at Cb-maj-3rd.

Repeating this for the 5th note / scale degree, the distance between Cb and Gb is 7 half-tones, and the note interval name is perfect (P5). More details of this interval are at Cb-perf-5th.

Again the 7th note / scale degree, the distance between Cb and Bb is 11 half-tones, and the note interval name is major (M7). More details of this interval are at Cb-maj-7th.

Finally, we have the name of the three note intervals of this 7th chord, and can now lookup the name of the 7th chord quality having these intervals.

Looking at the Seventh chord table, the name of the 7th chord quality having major(M3), perfect(P5) and major(M7) note intervals is major 7th.

And so the complete 7th chord Name prefixes the root note, Cb, onto this quality, giving us the Cb maj 7 chord.

Scale chord names using a,b and c notation

The chord symbol III could be followed by the letter a to indicate that it is Cb major 7th chord in root position (ie not inverted) - A-flat aeolian mode chord IIIa.

Instead, III could be followed by the letter b to indicate that it is Cb major 7th chord in 1st inversion - A-flat aeolian mode chord IIIb.

Letter c could be used to indicate that it is Cb major 7th chord in 2nd inversion - A-flat aeolian mode chord IIIc.

Finally, letter d could be used to indicate that it is Cb major 7th chord in 3rd inversion - A-flat aeolian mode chord IIId.

Scale chord names using figured bass notation

In place of the a-d symbols above, figured bass symbols could be used to indicate chord positions after III:

So in this key, III7 refers to the Cb major 7th chord in root position.

For 7th chord inversions, III65 refers to the Cb major 7th chord in 1st inversion, III43 refers to the Cb major 7th chord in 2nd inversion, and III2 refers to the Cb major 7th chord in 3rd inversion.

The next scale chord

The next step will need to calculate the 7th chord whose root / starting note is next mode note.

To do this, the first column we used in this step, Cb, will be moved to the final column of the table.

6. 4th 7th chord in A-flat aeolian mode

Identifying the 4 notes in the chord

The table below shows the A-flat aeolian mode, ordered to show the 4th note as the first column in the table.

To identify the 7th chord note names, use the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th columns / scale degrees, which are notes Db, Fb, Ab, and Cb.

Identifying the chord quality

To identify the 7th chord quality that has these notes, begin by counting the number of half-tones / semitones between the root and each of the notes.

For the 3rd interval (note 2 on the diagram) the distance between Db and Fb is 3 half-tones.

Now look at the complete Note interval table, and identify the note interval that has a distance of 3 half-tones (first column), and with an interval no. of 3 (last column).

The note interval name for the 3rd note / scale degree is therefore minor, also called m3 for short. More details of this interval are at Db-min-3rd.

Repeating this for the 5th note / scale degree, the distance between Db and Ab is 7 half-tones, and the note interval name is perfect (P5). More details of this interval are at Db-perf-5th.

Again the 7th note / scale degree, the distance between Db and Cb is 10 half-tones, and the note interval name is minor (m7). More details of this interval are at Db-min-7th.

Finally, we have the name of the three note intervals of this 7th chord, and can now lookup the name of the 7th chord quality having these intervals.

Looking at the Seventh chord table, the name of the 7th chord quality having minor(m3), perfect(P5) and minor(m7) note intervals is minor 7th.

And so the complete 7th chord Name prefixes the root note, Db, onto this quality, giving us the Db min 7 chord.

Scale chord names using a,b and c notation

The chord symbol iv could be followed by the letter a to indicate that it is Db minor 7th chord in root position (ie not inverted) - A-flat aeolian mode chord iva.

Instead, iv could be followed by the letter b to indicate that it is Db minor 7th chord in 1st inversion - A-flat aeolian mode chord ivb.

Letter c could be used to indicate that it is Db minor 7th chord in 2nd inversion - A-flat aeolian mode chord ivc.

Finally, letter d could be used to indicate that it is Db minor 7th chord in 3rd inversion - A-flat aeolian mode chord ivd.

Scale chord names using figured bass notation

In place of the a-d symbols above, figured bass symbols could be used to indicate chord positions after iv:

So in this key, iv7 refers to the Db minor 7th chord in root position.

For 7th chord inversions, iv65 refers to the Db minor 7th chord in 1st inversion, iv43 refers to the Db minor 7th chord in 2nd inversion, and iv2 refers to the Db minor 7th chord in 3rd inversion.

The next scale chord

The next step will need to calculate the 7th chord whose root / starting note is next mode note.

To do this, the first column we used in this step, Db, will be moved to the final column of the table.

7. 5th 7th chord in A-flat aeolian mode

Identifying the 4 notes in the chord

The table below shows the A-flat aeolian mode, ordered to show the 5th note as the first column in the table.

To identify the 7th chord note names, use the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th columns / scale degrees, which are notes Eb, Gb, Bb, and Db.

Identifying the chord quality

To identify the 7th chord quality that has these notes, begin by counting the number of half-tones / semitones between the root and each of the notes.

For the 3rd interval (note 2 on the diagram) the distance between Eb and Gb is 3 half-tones.

Now look at the complete Note interval table, and identify the note interval that has a distance of 3 half-tones (first column), and with an interval no. of 3 (last column).

The note interval name for the 3rd note / scale degree is therefore minor, also called m3 for short. More details of this interval are at Eb-min-3rd.

Repeating this for the 5th note / scale degree, the distance between Eb and Bb is 7 half-tones, and the note interval name is perfect (P5). More details of this interval are at Eb-perf-5th.

Again the 7th note / scale degree, the distance between Eb and Db is 10 half-tones, and the note interval name is minor (m7). More details of this interval are at Eb-min-7th.

Finally, we have the name of the three note intervals of this 7th chord, and can now lookup the name of the 7th chord quality having these intervals.

Looking at the Seventh chord table, the name of the 7th chord quality having minor(m3), perfect(P5) and minor(m7) note intervals is minor 7th.

And so the complete 7th chord Name prefixes the root note, Eb, onto this quality, giving us the Eb min 7 chord.

Scale chord names using a,b and c notation

The chord symbol v could be followed by the letter a to indicate that it is Eb minor 7th chord in root position (ie not inverted) - A-flat aeolian mode chord va.

Instead, v could be followed by the letter b to indicate that it is Eb minor 7th chord in 1st inversion - A-flat aeolian mode chord vb.

Letter c could be used to indicate that it is Eb minor 7th chord in 2nd inversion - A-flat aeolian mode chord vc.

Finally, letter d could be used to indicate that it is Eb minor 7th chord in 3rd inversion - A-flat aeolian mode chord vd.

Scale chord names using figured bass notation

In place of the a-d symbols above, figured bass symbols could be used to indicate chord positions after v:

So in this key, v7 refers to the Eb minor 7th chord in root position.

For 7th chord inversions, v65 refers to the Eb minor 7th chord in 1st inversion, v43 refers to the Eb minor 7th chord in 2nd inversion, and v2 refers to the Eb minor 7th chord in 3rd inversion.

The next scale chord

The next step will need to calculate the 7th chord whose root / starting note is next mode note.

To do this, the first column we used in this step, Eb, will be moved to the final column of the table.

8. 6th 7th chord in A-flat aeolian mode

Identifying the 4 notes in the chord

The table below shows the A-flat aeolian mode, ordered to show the 6th note as the first column in the table.

To identify the 7th chord note names, use the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th columns / scale degrees, which are notes Fb, Ab, Cb, and Eb.

Identifying the chord quality

To identify the 7th chord quality that has these notes, begin by counting the number of half-tones / semitones between the root and each of the notes.

For the 3rd interval (note 2 on the diagram) the distance between Fb and Ab is 4 half-tones.

Now look at the complete Note interval table, and identify the note interval that has a distance of 3 half-tones (first column), and with an interval no. of 3 (last column).

The note interval name for the 3rd note / scale degree is therefore major, also called M3 for short. More details of this interval are at Fb-maj-3rd.

Repeating this for the 5th note / scale degree, the distance between Fb and Cb is 7 half-tones, and the note interval name is perfect (P5). More details of this interval are at Fb-perf-5th.

Again the 7th note / scale degree, the distance between Fb and Eb is 11 half-tones, and the note interval name is major (M7). More details of this interval are at Fb-maj-7th.

Finally, we have the name of the three note intervals of this 7th chord, and can now lookup the name of the 7th chord quality having these intervals.

Looking at the Seventh chord table, the name of the 7th chord quality having major(M3), perfect(P5) and major(M7) note intervals is major 7th.

And so the complete 7th chord Name prefixes the root note, Fb, onto this quality, giving us the Fb maj 7 chord.

Scale chord names using a,b and c notation

The chord symbol VI could be followed by the letter a to indicate that it is Fb major 7th chord in root position (ie not inverted) - A-flat aeolian mode chord VIa.

Instead, VI could be followed by the letter b to indicate that it is Fb major 7th chord in 1st inversion - A-flat aeolian mode chord VIb.

Letter c could be used to indicate that it is Fb major 7th chord in 2nd inversion - A-flat aeolian mode chord VIc.

Finally, letter d could be used to indicate that it is Fb major 7th chord in 3rd inversion - A-flat aeolian mode chord VId.

Scale chord names using figured bass notation

In place of the a-d symbols above, figured bass symbols could be used to indicate chord positions after VI:

So in this key, VI7 refers to the Fb major 7th chord in root position.

For 7th chord inversions, VI65 refers to the Fb major 7th chord in 1st inversion, VI43 refers to the Fb major 7th chord in 2nd inversion, and VI2 refers to the Fb major 7th chord in 3rd inversion.

The next scale chord

The next step will need to calculate the 7th chord whose root / starting note is next mode note.

To do this, the first column we used in this step, Fb, will be moved to the final column of the table.

9. 7th 7th chord in A-flat aeolian mode

Identifying the 4 notes in the chord

The table below shows the A-flat aeolian mode, ordered to show the 7th note as the first column in the table.

To identify the 7th chord note names, use the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th columns / scale degrees, which are notes Gb, Bb, Db, and Fb.

Identifying the chord quality

To identify the 7th chord quality that has these notes, begin by counting the number of half-tones / semitones between the root and each of the notes.

For the 3rd interval (note 2 on the diagram) the distance between Gb and Bb is 4 half-tones.

Now look at the complete Note interval table, and identify the note interval that has a distance of 3 half-tones (first column), and with an interval no. of 3 (last column).

The note interval name for the 3rd note / scale degree is therefore major, also called M3 for short. More details of this interval are at Gb-maj-3rd.

Repeating this for the 5th note / scale degree, the distance between Gb and Db is 7 half-tones, and the note interval name is perfect (P5). More details of this interval are at Gb-perf-5th.

Again the 7th note / scale degree, the distance between Gb and Fb is 10 half-tones, and the note interval name is minor (m7). More details of this interval are at Gb-min-7th.

Finally, we have the name of the three note intervals of this 7th chord, and can now lookup the name of the 7th chord quality having these intervals.

Looking at the Seventh chord table, the name of the 7th chord quality having major(M3), perfect(P5) and minor(m7) note intervals is dominant 7th.

And so the complete 7th chord Name prefixes the root note, Gb, onto this quality, giving us the Gb dom 7 chord.

Scale chord names using a,b and c notation

The chord symbol VII could be followed by the letter a to indicate that it is Gb dominant 7th chord in root position (ie not inverted) - A-flat aeolian mode chord VIIa.

Instead, VII could be followed by the letter b to indicate that it is Gb dominant 7th chord in 1st inversion - A-flat aeolian mode chord VIIb.

Letter c could be used to indicate that it is Gb dominant 7th chord in 2nd inversion - A-flat aeolian mode chord VIIc.

Finally, letter d could be used to indicate that it is Gb dominant 7th chord in 3rd inversion - A-flat aeolian mode chord VIId.

Scale chord names using figured bass notation

In place of the a-d symbols above, figured bass symbols could be used to indicate chord positions after VII:

So in this key, VII7 refers to the Gb dominant 7th chord in root position.

For 7th chord inversions, VII65 refers to the Gb dominant 7th chord in 1st inversion, VII43 refers to the Gb dominant 7th chord in 2nd inversion, and VII2 refers to the Gb dominant 7th chord in 3rd inversion.

This completes the set of all 7th chords that harmonize with the A-flat aeolian mode.

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