Eb Minor Scale
E flat natural minor runs E flat, F, G flat, A flat, B flat, C flat, D flat and back to E flat. It has six flats. C flat is played on the piano key labeled B; its written name keeps C as the sixth letter of the scale.
- Notes: E flat-F-G flat-A flat-B flat-C flat-D flat
- Key signature: six flats
- Relative major: G flat major
How do the notes fit natural minor?
The half steps are F-G flat and B flat-C flat. The whole step from D flat back to E flat finishes the octave. Those distances give the natural-minor pattern, regardless of whether the keyboard labels a key with its enharmonic name.
Compare E flat major: E flat-F-G-A flat-B flat-C-D. Natural E flat minor lowers the third G to G flat, the sixth C to C flat and the seventh D to D flat. You can hear the chord difference by alternating E flat-G-B flat with E flat-G flat-B flat.
Why six flats in the signature?
The flats are B, E, A, D, G and C in standard order. The scale uses one note of each letter E-F-G-A-B-C-D. C flat avoids writing two different B notes and identifies the note as degree 6. G flat major has the same six-flat collection, with G flat as its center.
What chords use the natural-minor notes?
The seven triads are E flat minor, F diminished, G flat, A flat minor, B flat minor, C flat and D flat. The tonic is E flat-G flat-B flat. If you raise D flat to D natural, the fifth chord becomes B flat major: B flat-D-F.
Play B flat minor-E flat minor, then B flat major-E flat minor. D natural can rise a half step to E flat. It is an accidental in music in E flat minor, not part of the natural-minor scale. The Minor Scales compares the forms.
Find the same sound another way
The same piano pitches can be spelled D sharp minor with a different key signature. Use the E-flat names when the score is in E flat; the note letters explain the scale degrees you are reading.