About the E flat Harmonic Minor scale
E flat Harmonic Minor is used for classical minor keys, flamenco, metal and Middle Eastern melodies. Think of it as a minor scale with a dramatic raised seventh, the backbone of classical minor keys.
Its notes are E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭, and D. The formula is W H W W H 1½ H.
Also called Keeravani and Kirwani.
This mode draws four black keys from the piano, E♭, G♭, A♭, and B♭.
Chords in the key of E flat Harmonic Minor
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
i E flat minor
E flat minor over G flat (1st inversion)
ii° F diminished
F diminished over A flat (1st inversion)
III+ G flat augmented
G flat augmented over B flat (1st inversion)
iv A flat minor
A flat minor over C flat (1st inversion)
V B flat
B flat over D (1st inversion)
VI C flat
C flat over E flat (1st inversion)
vii° D diminished
D diminished over F (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in E flat Harmonic Minor
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
i E flat minor major seven
E flat minor major seven
ii° F minor seven flat five
F minor seven flat five
III+ G flat major seven sharp five
G flat major seven sharp five
iv A flat minor seven
A flat minor seven
V B flat seven
B flat seven
VI C flat major seven
C flat major seven
vii° D diminished seven
D diminished seven
Progressions in E flat Harmonic Minor
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | EbE♭ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | FF | Major 2nd |
| 3 | GbG♭ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | AbA♭ | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | BbB♭ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | CbC♭ | Minor 6th |
| 7 | DD | Major 7th |
| Steps | W H W W H 1½ H |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 2-1-2-2-1-3-1 |
| Degrees | 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 7 |
Fingering
Standard fingering
| Hand | E flat | F | G flat | A flat | B flat | C flat | D | E flat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Left hand | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
Practicing it
Going up, the right hand passes its thumb under on F and C♭. The left hand crosses over its thumb on F and C♭. Both hands cross on the same notes, F and C♭, so the two thumbs move together. Every black key here, E♭, G♭, A♭, and B♭, sits under a long finger, with the fourth finger anchoring on B♭, so the thumb never has to reach onto the raised group.
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Harmonic Minor in other keys
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.