In this work, an upright Ta2O5 nanorod array is grown first as a seed layer, and the further glancing deposited aluminum is then grown on the top of Ta2O5 nanorods. Owing to the distribution of the seed layer, the filling factor becomes lower than that of a single aluminum nanorod arrays on a bare and smooth substrate. In addition, we apply seed layers to change the characteristics of the metal nanorod arrays including diameter, tilt angle and porosity. The difference of optical properties between aluminum nanorod arrays is analyzed and discussed here.