E flat major scale
The E♭ major scale is E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D, E♭. It has 3 flats (B♭, E♭ and A♭), its relative minor is C minor, and the standard piano fingering is 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 in the right hand and 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3 in the left hand.
E flat major scale notes
The E♭ major scale has seven notes before the tonic repeats: E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D, E♭. Three of the seven are black keys on the piano (E♭, A♭ and B♭); the other four are white keys.
The step pattern is W W H W W W H (W = whole step, H = half step). The half steps fall between G and A♭ and D and E♭.
| Degree | Name | Note | Solfège (movable do) | Piano key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | E♭ | do | Black |
| 2 | Supertonic | F | re | White |
| 3 | Mediant | G | mi | White |
| 4 | Subdominant | A♭ | fa | Black |
| 5 | Dominant | B♭ | sol | Black |
| 6 | Submediant | C | la | White |
| 7 | Leading tone | D | ti | White |
E flat major key signature
The E♭ major key signature has 3 flats: B♭, E♭ and A♭, written in that order at the start of every line. Flats are always added in the order B, E, A, D, G, C, F. C minor shares this signature.
On the treble staff, the flats sit B♭ on the third line from the bottom, E♭ in the fourth space from the bottom and A♭ in the second space from the bottom.
Shortcut: the second to last flat, E♭, names the major key (E♭ major).
E flat major scale fingering
| Hand | Notes (ascending) | Fingers |
|---|---|---|
| Right hand | E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D, E♭ | 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 |
| Left hand | E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D, E♭ | 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3 |
Right hand going up: E♭ (finger 3) to F (finger 1), the thumb passes under; then B♭ (finger 4) to C (finger 1), the thumb passes under. Left hand going up: G (finger 1) to A♭ (finger 4), the finger passes over the thumb; then D (finger 1) to E♭ (finger 3), the finger passes over the thumb. Fingers are numbered 1 (thumb) to 5 (little finger) in both hands.
The thumb stays on white keys in both hands; the black keys go to the longer fingers. For two octaves and the descending pattern, open the free piano scale fingering tool linked below.
Chords in E flat major
Building a triad on each note of the scale gives the seven chords of E♭ major. The primary chords are E♭ (I), A♭ (IV) and B♭ (V).
| Degree | Triad | Notes | Seventh chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | E♭ | E♭ G B♭ | E♭maj7 | E♭ G B♭ D |
| ii | Fm | F A♭ C | Fm7 | F A♭ C E♭ |
| iii | Gm | G B♭ D | Gm7 | G B♭ D F |
| IV | A♭ | A♭ C E♭ | A♭maj7 | A♭ C E♭ G |
| V | B♭ | B♭ D F | B♭7 | B♭ D F A♭ |
| vi | Cm | C E♭ G | Cm7 | C E♭ G B♭ |
| vii° | D° | D F A♭ | Dm7♭5 | D F A♭ C |
One of the most common progressions in pop music, I V vi IV, is E♭, B♭, Cm, A♭ in E♭ major. A ii V I cadence is Fm7, B♭7, E♭maj7.
Reading E flat major on the staff
E flat major is a common key in wind band music, since many band instruments are pitched in B flat and E flat. Its three flats are B flat, E flat and A flat.
On the treble staff, E♭4 to E♭5 needs no ledger lines. On the bass staff, E♭3 to E♭4 needs 2 ledger lines above the staff. Because of those ledger lines, left hand parts in this key are often written an octave lower, from E♭2.
The reading trap in E♭ major is the key signature: the flats are written once at the start of the line, not next to the notes. Before you play, say the altered notes out loud (B♭, E♭ and A♭), then check every B, E and A on the page.
How to practise the E flat major scale
- Say the notes before you play them: E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D, E♭.
- Play hands separately, one octave, at a slow steady pulse (60 beats per minute, one note per beat), using 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 in the right hand and 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3 in the left.
- Stop on each thumb crossing and check the next finger is already over its key before you move.
- Add the descending scale with the same fingers in reverse, then go to two octaves.
- Put the hands together only when each hand can play it three times in a row without a stop, then raise the tempo by about 8 beats per minute at a time.
- Finish with the primary chords: E♭ (E♭ G B♭), A♭ (A♭ C E♭) and B♭ (B♭ D F).
Clef, our iPhone and iPad app, drills major scales, triads and arpeggios with its on-screen controls or a connected MIDI keyboard, then brings each one back on a spaced schedule so it stays learned.
Keys related to E flat major
- C minor scale: relative minor, same key signature
- E flat minor scale: parallel minor, same tonic
- B flat major scale: a fifth above, 2 flats
- A flat major scale: a fifth below, 4 flats
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the E flat major scale?
The E♭ major scale is E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D, E♭, then E♭ again an octave higher.
How many flats are in E flat major?
E flat major has 3 flats: B♭, E♭ and A♭.
What is the relative minor of E flat major?
C minor. It uses the same key signature and the same notes, starting on C.
What chords are in E flat major?
E♭ (I), Fm (ii), Gm (iii), A♭ (IV), B♭ (V), Cm (vi), D° (vii°).
What is the fingering for the E flat major scale on piano?
Right hand 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 going up from E♭; left hand 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3 going up. Reverse the numbers to come down.