Common
About the E flat Natural Minor scale
E flat Natural Minor is used for ballads, cinematic themes and emotional rock and pop. Think of it as the classic sad, serious minor sound. It is E♭ Dorian with the sixth lowered.
Its notes are E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭, and D♭. The formula is W H W W H W W. It is the sixth mode of G♭ Major.
Also called the Aeolian mode, Melodic Minor Descending, and Asavari. The descending form of the melodic minor scale uses these same notes.
On the piano, this scale touches the black keys E♭, G♭, A♭, B♭, and D♭.
Chords in the key of E flat Natural Minor
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
Position 2 of 3
E flat minor over G flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
F diminished over A flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
G flat over B flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
A flat minor over C flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
B flat minor over D flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
C flat over E flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
D flat over F (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in E flat Natural Minor
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
E flat minor seven
F minor seven flat five
G flat major seven
A flat minor seven
B flat minor seven
C flat major seven
D flat seven
Progressions in E flat Natural Minor
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Common
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 | DbD♭ | Minor 7th |
| Steps | W H W W H W W |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 2-1-2-2-1-2-2 |
| Degrees | 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 |
Fingering
Standard fingering
| Hand | E flat | F | G flat | A flat | B flat | C flat | D flat | E flat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Left hand | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
Practicing it
The right thumb tucks under to play 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♭, B♭, and D♭, sits under a long finger, anchored by the fourth finger on B♭, so the thumb never has to reach onto the raised group.
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
The relative major is G flat Major scale.
Natural Minor in other keys
C Natural Minor scaleD flat Natural Minor scaleD Natural Minor scaleE Natural Minor scaleF Natural Minor scaleG flat Natural Minor scaleG Natural Minor scaleA flat Natural Minor scaleA Natural Minor scaleB flat Natural Minor scaleB Natural Minor scale
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.
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