E♭ Major Scale (Eb)
The Eb major scale (also called Eb Ionian) contains Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb – C – D. Its key signature has 3 flats: Bb, Eb and Ab.
| Note | Eb | F | G | Ab | Bb | C | D | Eb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Left hand | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Piano fingering for one octave going up; 1 is the thumb. Coming down, play the same fingers in reverse.
Eb major scale fingering
Right hand, going up: the thumb tucks under to F and C. Left hand, going up: finger 4 crosses over the thumb to Ab and finger 3 crosses over the thumb to Eb. Practise each hand alone, slowly, until the turns are smooth, then play hands together.
Key signature
Eb major has 3 flats: Bb, Eb and Ab. Its relative minor is C minor, which uses the same notes and key signature. See the chords in the key of Eb major and of C minor.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Semitones from Eb |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eb | 0 |
| 2 | F | 2 |
| 3 | G | 4 |
| 4 | Ab | 5 |
| 5 | Bb | 7 |
| 6 | C | 9 |
| 7 | D | 11 |
Step pattern
The Major scale is built from the pattern W – W – H – W – W – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step). Apply that pattern from any starting note and you get the same mode in a different key.
Chords in Eb Major
Building a triad on each degree of the scale gives you the chords that belong to it. These are the chords to reach for when writing in Eb Major.
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I | Eb | Eb G Bb |
| 2 | ii | Fm | F Ab C |
| 3 | iii | Gm | G Bb D |
| 4 | IV | Ab | Ab C Eb |
| 5 | V | Bb | Bb D F |
| 6 | vi | Cm | C Eb G |
| 7 | vii° | Ddim | D F Ab |
Other modes on Eb
More scales on Eb
Major scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the Eb Major scale?
The Eb Major scale contains Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, then returns to Eb an octave higher.
What is the fingering for the Eb major scale on piano?
Going up from Eb to Eb, the right hand plays 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 and the left hand plays 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3, where 1 is the thumb. Coming down, use the same fingers in reverse.
How many flats are in Eb major?
Eb major has 3 flats: Bb, Eb and Ab.
What is the step pattern of the Major scale?
The Major scale follows the whole/half step pattern W – W – H – W – W – W – H, where W is a whole step (two semitones) and H is a half step (one semitone).
Which chords work with the Eb Major scale?
The diatonic chords are Eb, Fm, Gm, Ab, Bb, Cm, Ddim. Each is built only from notes of the Eb Major scale, so they all belong to the same tonality — though the diminished chord carries a tritone and normally wants to resolve.