Explore scales · Guitar
E♭ major scale on guitar
E♭ major uses the notes E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C, and D. Box 1 spans frets 1–4 and places the root on the fourth string.
How it is built
Formula 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
How do you play the E♭ major scale on guitar?
E♭ major in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 15 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, 3 | B♭, C |
| 4 (D) | 1, 3 | E♭, F |
| 3 (G) | 1, 3 | A♭, B♭ |
| 2 (B) | 1, 3, 4 | C, D, E♭ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 3, 4 | F, G, A♭ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
E♭ major in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 17 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) | 3, 5, 6 | C, D, E♭ |
| 4 (D) | 3, 5, 6 | F, G, A♭ |
| 3 (G) | 3, 5 | B♭, C |
| 2 (B) | 3, 4, 6 | D, E♭, F |
| 1 (e) | 3, 4, 6 | G, A♭, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 6–9
E♭ major in box 3 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 13 notes across 6 strings, from B♭ on the low E string at fret 6 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) | 6, 8 | B♭, C |
| 5 (A) | 6, 8 | E♭, F |
| 4 (D) | 6, 8 | A♭, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 7, 8 | D, E♭ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 8, 9 | F, G, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 8 | B♭, C |
Box 4 · frets 8–11
E♭ major 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, 10, 11 | C, D, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 10, 11 | F, G, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 8, 10 | B♭, C |
| 3 (G) | 8, 10 | E♭, F |
| 2 (B) | 8, 9, 11 | G, A♭, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 10, 11 | C, D, E♭ |
Box 5 · frets 11–13
E♭ major in box 5 runs from fret 11 to fret 13, 12 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 | A♭, B♭ |
| 4 (D) | 12, 13 | D, E♭ |
| 3 (G) | 12, 13 | G, A♭ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 13 | B♭, C |
| 1 (e) | 11, 13 | E♭, F |
Why it sounds like that
E♭ major is built from the whole-step, whole-step, half-step, whole-step, whole-step, whole-step, half-step pattern. The E♭ major pentatonic omits the fourth and seventh degrees. The A♭ and D add richness to the pentatonic sound.
When to use it
E♭ major fits E♭ major and E♭ 5th chords. It also works over the key's diatonic chords like A♭ major and B♭ major. Use it for horn-driven rock and soul.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first. The root on string 4, fret 1 keeps the scale low and easy to reach.
Common questions
What notes are in the E♭ major scale?
E♭ major contains E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C, and D. The scale has three flats. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Which chords fit the E♭ major scale?
E♭ major works over E♭ major and E♭ 5th chords. It also fits A♭ major and B♭ major. The seventh degree, D, leads strongly to E♭.
What is the relative minor of E♭ major?
The relative minor of E♭ major is C minor. Both scales share the same key signature of three flats. C minor starts on the sixth degree of E♭ major.