Eb Harmonic Minor Scale
E flat harmonic minor runs E flat, F, G flat, A flat, B flat, C flat, D and back to E flat. It raises the D flat of E flat natural minor to D natural. The other six different notes stay where they were.
- Notes: E flat-F-G flat-A flat-B flat-C flat-D
- Raised seventh: D natural
- Key signature: six flats
Why is C flat still there?
E flat natural minor uses C flat as its sixth degree. Harmonic minor changes only the seventh, D flat to D. The span C flat-D is three semitones. On the piano, C flat uses the B key, so the leap looks like B to D.
The spelling matters in notation: E-F-G-A-B-C-D are the seven letter positions, each used once. D natural is the seventh below E flat, not a new tonic.
How does the raised note affect chords?
Natural E flat minor makes B flat-D flat-F, or B flat minor, on the fifth degree. D natural makes B flat-D-F, or B flat major. Add A flat for B flat7. Play B flat minor-E flat minor, then B flat7-E flat minor. Follow D upward to E flat.
The E-flat-minor key signature still has six flats, including D flat and C flat. D natural is written as an accidental where used. It may return to D flat in another phrase.
One practical phrase
Play E flat-G flat-B flat-C flat-D-E flat. Then play B flat-D-F followed by E flat-G flat-B flat. Hearing D in both the line and the chord makes its role easier to remember.