Playing in Eb Major
Three flats define the Eb major scale: Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C and D. Tuning the guitar down a half step turns every E major shape into Eb major, which is one reason this key turns up in rock.
Without tuning down, the root is on the 11th fret of the low E string or the 6th fret of the A string. C minor is its relative minor. Fretting the scale cleanly matters more in a flat key, so read about scale fingering before you speed up.
Play the Eb major scale
Use the step menu in the player to switch between the single-string run and the box shapes.
Notes of the Eb major scale
| Note | Degree | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eb | 1 | Root | 0 |
| F | 2 | Major 2nd | 2 |
| G | 3 | Major 3rd | 4 |
| Ab | 4 | Perfect 4th | 5 |
| Bb | 5 | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| C | 6 | Major 6th | 9 |
| D | 7 | Major 7th | 11 |
Structure
Eb major scale notes:
How the major scale is built:
The major scale is built from the degrees 1 2 3 4 5 6 7, which gives the step pattern W-W-H-W-W-W-H (W = whole step, H = half step).
Counting in semitones from the root: 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11. That makes it a 7-note scale.
It is the parent scale of its own modal family.
It is also known as Ionian.
Eb Major 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 major scale
Stacking thirds on each degree of the scale gives these chords.
Related modes
These scales share the same notes as the major scale, starting from a different degree.
The major scale in other keys
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
