Eb Minor Scale, Step by Step
Six flats make the Eb minor scale: Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb and Db. Cb is a theoretical name for B, and the relative major is Gb. Reading it as D# minor trades flats for sharps and is no easier.
The scale is frequent in songs that tune down a half step, because the open E minor shape becomes Eb minor. Fret the root on the 11th fret of the low E string or the 6th fret of the A string, and use two notes per string patterns for a clear map.
Play the Eb minor scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the Eb minor scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eb | 1 | Root | 0 |
| F | 2 | Major 2nd | 2 |
| Gb | b3 | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| Ab | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| Bb | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| Cb | b6 | Minor 6th | 8 |
| Db | b7 | Minor 7th | 10 |
Structure
Eb minor scale notes:
How the minor scale is built:
The minor scale is built from the degrees 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7, which gives the step pattern W-H-W-W-H-W-W (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10. That makes it a 7-note scale.
It is mode 6 of the Major Scale, so both scales share the same notes from a different starting point.
It is also known as Aeolian and Natural Minor.
Eb Minor Scale Guitar Patterns
Static diagrams of every position shown in the player above.
On one string (D)
Box pattern — position 1
Box pattern — position 2
Box pattern — position 3
Box pattern — position 4
Box pattern — position 5
3 notes per string — position 1
3 notes per string — position 2
3 notes per string — position 3
3 notes per string — position 4
3 notes per string — position 5
Chords in the Eb minor scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Related modes
These scales share the same notes as the minor scale, starting from a different degree.
The minor scale in other keys
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
