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E flat minor scale

The natural minor scale: the eight notes, fingering for both hands and the key signature.

The short answer

The notes of the E flat minor scale are E flat, F, G flat, A flat, B flat, C flat and D flat, and then E flat again at the top.

On the keys

Keyboard with the E flat minor scale marked: E flat, F, G flat, A flat, B flat, C flat and D flatFC♭E♭G♭A♭B♭D♭E♭

Yellow is the starting note, and the same note again an octave up.

On the staff

Treble and bass staves showing the E flat minor scale, one octave: E flat, F, G flat, A flat, B flat, C flat and D flatE♭FG♭A♭B♭C♭D♭E♭

One octave of E flat minor, with the key signature at the start of each staff. E flat minor has six flats in its key signature: B flat, E flat, A flat, D flat, G flat and C flat. The right hand reads the treble clef; the left plays the same notes two octaves lower, on the bass clef.

Fingering

One octave going up. The thumb is 1 and the little finger is 5. Coming down, play the same fingers in reverse order.

HandE♭FG♭A♭B♭C♭D♭E♭
Right31234123
Left21432132

Key signature

E flat minor has six flats in its key signature: B flat, E flat, A flat, D flat, G flat and C flat. This is the natural minor, so it uses the key signature of its relative major, G flat major.

Harmonic and melodic minor

The natural minor is one of three minor scales. The harmonic minor raises the seventh note by a semitone, which gives E flat minor a leading note a semitone below the top: E flat, F, G flat, A flat, B flat, C flat and D. The melodic minor raises the sixth and seventh notes going up: E flat, F, G flat, A flat, B flat, C and D. Coming down it goes back to the natural minor.

Keep going

Questions

How many flats does the E flat minor scale have?

E flat minor has six flats in its key signature: B flat, E flat, A flat, D flat, G flat and C flat.

What is the fingering for the E flat minor scale?

For one octave going up, the right hand uses 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 and the left hand uses 2 1 4 3 2 1 3 2.

Practise E flat minor and the other scales in PlayPiano, a piano practice app for iPhone and iPad.

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