Explore scales · Guitar
E♭ acoustic scale on guitar
E♭ acoustic uses E♭, F, G, A, B♭, C, D♭. Box 1 keeps the raised fourth on the first string.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 3, ♯4, 5, 6, ♭7
How do you play the E♭ acoustic scale on guitar?
E♭ acoustic in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 14 notes across 6 strings, from F on the low E string at fret 1 up to G on the high e string at fret 3. The root falls on the D string at fret 1 and the B string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1, 3 | F, G |
| 5 (A) | 1, 3, 4 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 3 (G) | 2, 3 | A, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 2, 4 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 3 | F, G |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
E♭ acoustic in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 16 notes across 6 strings, from G on the low E string at fret 3 up to B♭ on the high e string at fret 6. The root falls on the A string at fret 6 and the B string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3, 5, 6 | G, A, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 3, 4, 6 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 3, 5 | F, G |
| 3 (G) | 3, 5, 6 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 6 | E♭, F |
| 1 (e) | 3, 5, 6 | G, A, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 5–8
E♭ acoustic in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 16 notes across 6 strings, from A on the low E string at fret 5 up to C on the high e string at fret 8. The root falls on the A string at fret 6 and the G string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 5, 6, 8 | A, B♭, C |
| 5 (A) | 6, 8 | E♭, F |
| 4 (D) | 5, 7, 8 | G, A, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 5, 6, 8 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 8 | F, G |
| 1 (e) | 5, 6, 8 | A, B♭, C |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
E♭ acoustic in box 4 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 16 notes across 6 strings, from C on the low E string at fret 8 up to E♭ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the low E string at fret 11, the G string at fret 8 and the high e string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8, 9, 11 | C, D♭, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 10 | F, G |
| 4 (D) | 8, 10, 11 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 3 (G) | 8, 10 | E♭, F |
| 2 (B) | 8, 10, 11 | G, A, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 9, 11 | C, D♭, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
E♭ acoustic in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 13 notes across 6 strings, from E♭ on the low E string at fret 11 up to F on the high e string at fret 13. The root falls on the low E string at fret 11, the D string at fret 13 and the high e string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 13 | E♭, F |
| 5 (A) | 12, 13 | A, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13 | D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 12, 14 | G, A |
| 2 (B) | 11, 13, 14 | B♭, C, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 13 | E♭, F |
Why it sounds like that
E♭ acoustic raises the fourth of E♭ mixolydian from A♭ to A. The scale is built 1, 2, 3, ♯4, 5, 6, ♭7. This creates a Lydian Dominant sound, also called Overtone or Lydian ♭7. Compare it with E♭ mixolydian to hear the altered fourth.
When to use it
Use E♭ acoustic over E♭7, E♭ major, or E♭ 5th chords in rock, fusion, and jazz. The ♯4 adds tension over dominant chords. Try it over E♭ major or E♭ 5th progressions.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. It keeps the root on the fourth string and covers frets 1–4 for quick access to the ♯4.
Common questions
What notes are in E♭ acoustic?
E♭, F, G, A, B♭, C, D♭. The raised fourth is A and the flat seventh is D♭. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit E♭ acoustic?
E♭7, E♭ major, and E♭ 5th work well. The scale also fits over F major and B♭ minor in progressions.
How is E♭ acoustic different from E♭ mixolydian?
E♭ acoustic has an A instead of A♭. That raised fourth creates the Lydian Dominant sound.