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E♭ aeolian dominant scale on guitar
E♭ aeolian dominant contains E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭. The Box 1 shape starts on the fifth string, sixth fret.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7
How do you play the E♭ aeolian dominant scale on guitar?
E♭ aeolian dominant in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 16 notes across 6 strings, from F on the low E string at fret 1 up to A♭ on the high e string at fret 4. 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, 4 | F, G, A♭ |
| 5 (A) | 1, 2, 4 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 3 (G) | 1, 3, 4 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 2 (B) | 2, 4 | D♭, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 3, 4 | F, G, A♭ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
E♭ aeolian dominant 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, 4, 6 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 4, 6 | D♭, E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 3, 5, 6 | F, G, A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 3, 4, 6 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 6 | E♭, F |
| 1 (e) | 3, 4, 6 | G, A♭, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
E♭ aeolian dominant in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 16 notes across 6 strings, from B♭ on the low E string at fret 6 up to D♭ on the high e string at fret 9. 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) | 6, 7, 9 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
| 5 (A) | 6, 8 | E♭, F |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8, 9 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 3 (G) | 6, 8 | D♭, E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 8, 9 | F, G, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 7, 9 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
Box 4 · frets 9–12
E♭ aeolian dominant in box 4 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 13 notes across 6 strings, from D♭ on the low E string at fret 9 up to E♭ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the low E string at fret 11 and the high e string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 11 | D♭, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 10, 11 | G, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 9, 11 | C♭, D♭ |
| 3 (G) | 10, 12 | F, G |
| 2 (B) | 9, 11, 12 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 1 (e) | 9, 11 | D♭, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 11–14
E♭ aeolian dominant in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 14 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) | 11, 13, 14 | A♭, B♭, C♭ |
| 4 (D) | 11, 13 | D♭, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 12, 13 | G, A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 12, 14 | B♭, C♭, D♭ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 13 | E♭, F |
Why it sounds like that
Raise the third of E♭ natural minor from G♭ to G to build this scale. The intervals are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7. Compare with E♭ natural minor to hear the change. The major third over the minor sixth creates the dominant quality.
When to use it
Use it over E♭ major or E♭ 5th chords in jazz and fusion. The ♭6 adds a dark edge to dominant lines. Try it over E♭ major or E♭ 5th.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. The root on the fifth string, sixth fret covers frets 1–4 and sets up Box 2.
Common questions
What notes are in E♭ aeolian dominant?
The notes are E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭. The scale has a major third and a minor sixth. It is the fifth mode of A♭ melodic minor. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit E♭ aeolian dominant?
The tonic chord is E♭ major. You can also use E♭ 5th power chords. Avoid chords with a natural sixth.
How does E♭ aeolian dominant differ from E♭ natural minor?
E♭ aeolian dominant raises the third from G♭ to G. This creates a major tonic triad instead of a minor one. The rest of the notes stay the same.