stringery

E♭ minor

Natural minor, also called aeolian. Minor family

Sad, serious, the classic minor sound.

Root position5 of 5

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Square: the root. In colour: the flat 6th, the note that gives this scale its sound.

Built from

  1. E♭RW
  2. F2H
  3. G♭♭3W
  4. A♭4W
  5. B♭5H
  6. C♭♭6W
  7. D♭♭7W

The flat 3rd makes it minor, and the flat 6th is what makes it sound sad rather than just dark.

Between the notes: W is a whole step (2 frets), H a half step (1 fret), and 1½ a step and a half (3 frets).

On the whole neckE♭ minor

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12345EADGBE357912152♭345♭6♭7R2♭35♭6♭7R2♭345♭6R2♭345♭6♭7R245♭6♭7R2♭345♭6♭7R2♭345♭6♭72♭345♭6♭7R2♭3

Position 5 is outlined, frets 10 to 14. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The E♭ minor key

Build a chord on every note of the scale and you get these seven. Songs in this key mostly use them.

  1. E♭mi
  2. Fdimii°
  3. G♭III
  4. A♭miv
  5. B♭mv
  6. C♭VI
  7. D♭VII

Its neighbours on the circle of fifths Capo and transpose

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • F♯ major

    Same notes, but home is F♯: bright, familiar, resolved.

  • G♯ dorian

    Same notes, but home is G♯: minor but hopeful. cool and groovy.

  • D♭ mixolydian

    Same notes, but home is D♭: major and laid-back, with swagger.

  • B lydian

    Same notes, but home is B: floating, magical, wide-eyed.

  • B♭ phrygian

    Same notes, but home is B♭: dark, spanish, menacing.