The Composer's Life
Diving into the day-to-day details of a composer: what they do, how they do it, and why. Nadia, the host, is a composer for film and media and a graduate from Berklee College of Music. She shares tips on how to compose, music theory, her experiences, and interviews other composers to give you an insider's view on composing professionally.
Website: https://www.nadiamair.com/the-composers-life
Email: nadiammair@gmail.com
The Composer's Life
Composing with Modes: Aeolian
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Aeolian is the sound most people associate with sadness in music — but it’s more subtle than that. It doesn’t push forward like some other modes. It sits a little lower, feels more internal, and tends to settle rather than resolve.
Today, I continue the modes series by looking at Aeolian and how its natural minor sound shapes the emotional direction of a piece when you start composing with it. What makes it interesting isn’t just that it’s “minor”, but the way it removes urgency — leaving space for something quieter, more reflective, and less driven.
This is the sixth of a seven part series where I break down each musical mode so you can use in your own composing.
To get more help with the concept, here's an article that contains music examples, video explanations, and a pdf with all the Aeolian scales:
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