Eb Minor

Key Signature

PropertyValue
TonicEb
ModeMinor
Accidentals6 flats
Key Signature Notes Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb

Eb minor has six flats and is enharmonically equivalent to D# minor. It is preferred in notation when the surrounding harmonic context uses flat key signatures.

Diatonic Chords

The seven diatonic chords of Eb Minor — each built on a scale degree using only the notes of the key signature:

DegreeRoman NumeralChord TypeChord
1 i Minor Eb Minor
2 ii° Diminished F Diminished
3 III Major Gb Major
4 iv Minor Ab Minor
5 v Minor Bb Minor
6 VI Major B Major
7 VII Major Db Major

Related Keys

Relative Major
Gb Major — shares the same key signature.
Parallel Major
Eb Major — same tonic, different key signature.

See all key relationships on the Circle of Fifths.

Scales in Eb Minor

Common scales built from the Eb tonic:

Transposing Instrument Context

Bb instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor saxophone) read in F minor to sound Eb Minor. Eb instruments (alto saxophone, Eb clarinet) read in C minor to sound Eb Minor. Flat-key signatures are particularly comfortable for woodwind instruments designed around Bb and Eb transpositions.

Related References