Learn all about the E-flat minor piano scale, including its notes, diatonic chords, finger positions, and songs in this key
Meet the moody and mysterious E♭ minor scale. It can be tricky to play with six flats in its key signature, but its unique sound lends a dark intensity to music in both popular and classical genres. Here’s what you’ll learn about E♭ minor in this article:
- Musical history of the E♭ minor scale
- What notes to play on the keyboard for the E♭ minor scale
- The key signature for E♭ minor
- How the E♭ minor scale looks written on the treble staff
- The fingering for the one-octave E♭ natural minor scale
- The natural, harmonic, and melodic forms of the E♭ minor scale
- How to play chords on the piano in E♭ minor
- Some songs to learn and listen to in E♭ minor
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Interesting background on the E-flat minor scale
The E♭ minor scale is a fascinating key in music, known for its rich, dark, and introspective qualities. Here are some interesting aspects and background information about the E♭ minor scale:
- Usage in classical music: E♭ minor is not commonly used in classical music due to its complex notation. However, some composers have been drawn to its unique sound. Notable works in E♭ minor include Johann Sebastian Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in E-flat minor and the Intermezzo in E-flat minor, Op. 118, No. 6 by Johannes Brahms.
- Character and mood: E♭ minor is often associated with a deeply emotional, somber, or introspective mood, making it suitable for expressing profound or melancholy themes.
- Adaptation in various genres: Beyond classical music, E♭ minor has also been explored in jazz, film scores, and contemporary music.
Despite its complexities and less frequent use, E♭ minor holds a special place in music for its unique tonal color and the expressive possibilities it offers to composers and performers.
What are the notes of the E-flat minor scale?
Every minor scale has three versions; natural, harmonic, and melodic.
The scale of E♭ natural minor starts on E♭ and has six flats in its key signature. The notes are E♭ (E flat), F, G♭ (G flat), A♭ (A flat), B♭ (B flat), C♭ (C flat, enharmonic to B), D♭ (D flat) and E♭ (E flat).
E♭ minor is enharmonic to D♯ minor, which means these two scales use the same pitches, but with different names. In the key of D♯ minor, the notes would be D♯ (enharmonic to E♭), E♯ (enharmonic to F), F♯ (enharmonic to G♭), G♯ (enharmonic to A♭), A♯ (enharmonic to B♭), B, C♯ (enharmonic to D♭), and D♯.
To play the E♭ harmonic minor scale, simply raise the seventh tone of the scale from D♭ to D. This creates what’s known as a leading tone, a note that’s only a half step below the tonic, in this case D being a half step below E♭. In melodies and chords, this leading tone provides a dissonance that makes the ear hungry for that resolution back to the tonic of the scale. It leads the music home.
To play the E♭ melodic minor scale, raise both the sixth and seventh tones of the scale by one half step, C♭ to C and D♭ to D. The melodic minor scale is unusual in that it is played with the sixth and seventh tones raised when the scale is ascending and lowered back when the scale is descending. So a descending melodic minor scale is the same as natural minor.
What is the key signature for the E-flat minor scale?
The E♭ minor scale has six flats in its key signature, B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, and C♭.
What is the relative major of the E-flat minor scale?
The relative major of the E♭ minor scale is G♭ major. In music theory, relative major and minor keys share the same key signature. Both E♭ minor and G♭ major have a key signature of six flats.
How do you play the E-flat minor scale on piano?
Right-hand placement for the E♭ minor scale when going up:
3 on E♭
Pass the thumb under
1 on F
2 on G♭
3 on A♭
4 on B♭
Pass the thumb under
1 on C♭
2 on D♭
3 on E♭
Left-hand placement for the E♭ minor scale:
2 on E♭
1 on F
Cross the 4th finger over
4 on G♭
3 on A♭
2 on B♭
1 on C♭
Cross the 3rd finger over
3 on D♭
2 on E♭
When coming down the E-flat minor scale, reverse the finger order like this:
Right hand:
3 on E♭
2 on D♭
1 on C♭
Cross the 4th finger over
4 on B♭
3 on A♭
2 on G♭
1 on F
Cross the 3rd finger over
3 on E♭
Left hand:
2 on E♭
3 on D♭
Pass the thumb under
1 on C♭
2 on B♭
3 on A♭
4 on G♭
Pass the thumb under
1 on F
2 on E♭
For fingering for E♭ harmonic minor and melodic minor, as well as all other minor scales, download our free Minor Scales Fingering Guide.
Chords in the key of E-flat minor scale: piano tips
Here are the chords based on each note of the E-flat minor scale:
E♭m (E-flat minor – i): E♭ – G♭ – B♭
Fdim (F diminished – ii°): F – A♭ – C♭ (enharmonically B)
G♭maj (G-flat major – III): G♭ – B♭ – D♭
A♭m (A-flat minor – iv): A♭ – C♭ (enharmonically B) – E♭
B♭m (B-flat minor – v): B♭ – D♭ – F ** If using E♭ harmonic minor, the V chord is B♭ Major (B♭ – D – F)
C♭maj (C-flat major, enharmonically B major – VI): C♭ (B) – E♭ – G♭
D♭maj (D-flat major – VII): D♭ – F – A♭ ** If using E♭ harmonic minor, the vii chord is D diminished (D – F – A♭)
If you’d like some handy reference guides for triads in all keys, download these free resources from the Hoffman Academy Store:
Songs to play on the piano in the key of E-flat minor
Would you like to learn a song in E♭ minor? Download the sheet music to the folk song I Hear the Mill Wheel from the Hoffman Academy Store. This download is free for premium members, and can also be purchased separately.
If you’re a more advanced piano player, try this late intermediate arrangement of Edvard Grieg’s “Puck” from his work Lyric Pieces. The spooky sound of E♭ minor is perfect for a song about a mischievous sprite.
For some famous songs to listen to in E♭ minor, try:
- Prelude Op.23 No.9 In E flat minor by Rachmaninov
- Beat It by Michael Jackson
- You’re Not Sorry by Taylor Swift (written in D♯ minor, which is enharmonic to E♭ minor)
We hope you’ve had fun exploring the E♭ minor piano scale! To learn more about minor scales and how to play them, check out Hoffman Academy’s Minor Scales Fingering Guide.
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