Which mode is described as natural minor; flat 3, 6, 7?

Which mode is described as natural minor; flat 3, 6, 7?

• A. Mixolydian
• B. Dorian
• C. Phrygian
• D. Aeolian

Answer: (A)

Natural minor is the Aeolian mode. It uses the same pitches as the major scale but lowers three degrees: the third, the sixth, and the seventh. For example, in the key of A, the natural minor scale is A B C D E F G. Relative to A major (A B C# D E F# G#), the third, sixth, and seventh degrees are flattened (C instead of C#, F instead of F#, and G instead of G#). That combination—flat 3, flat 6, and flat 7—is what defines the Aeolian mode. Mixolydian, by contrast, has a flat seventh but not flats on the third and sixth; Dorian has flat 3 and flat 7 (but natural 6); Phrygian has additional flats, including a flat second. So the description points to Aeolian.

Natural minor is the Aeolian mode. It uses the same pitches as the major scale but lowers three degrees: the third, the sixth, and the seventh. For example, in the key of A, the natural minor scale is A B C D E F G. Relative to A major (A B C# D E F# G#), the third, sixth, and seventh degrees are flattened (C instead of C#, F instead of F#, and G instead of G#). That combination—flat 3, flat 6, and flat 7—is what defines the Aeolian mode.

Mixolydian, by contrast, has a flat seventh but not flats on the third and sixth; Dorian has flat 3 and flat 7 (but natural 6); Phrygian has additional flats, including a flat second. So the description points to Aeolian.