Eb Whole Tone Scale
Notes in the Eb Whole Tone Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | Eb | 311.127 Hz |
| 2 | Supertonic | F | 349.228 Hz |
| 3 | Mediant | G | 391.995 Hz |
| ♯4 | Augmented 4th | A | 440.000 Hz |
| ♯5 | Augmented 5th | B | 493.883 Hz |
| ♭7 | Subtonic | Db | 277.183 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Eb | F |
| 2 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | F | G |
| 3 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | G | A |
| 4 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | A | B |
| 5 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | B | Db |
| 6 | Whole Step (W) | 2 | Db | Eb |
Chords Built on Scale Degrees
| Degree | Note | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eb | Eb augmented | augmented |
| 2 | F | F augmented | augmented |
| 3 | G | G augmented | augmented |
| ♯4 | A | A augmented | augmented |
| ♯5 | B | B augmented | augmented |
| ♭7 | Db | Db augmented | augmented |
Key Signature
3 ♭ — The Eb key signature uses Bb, Eb, Ab.
Eb Whole Tone Scale in Practice
The Eb Whole Tone Scale uses the key signature of 3 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab). Eb major has three flats and a rich, full sound well suited to brass instruments. It is widely used in jazz, classical music, and is the home key for Eb instruments. On guitar, Eb positions offer comfortable transposing instrument keys for this scale.
The whole tone scale divides the octave into six equal whole steps, creating a symmetrical, ambiguous sound with no tonal center. Debussy used it extensively to create impressionistic, floating effects.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eb | 311.127 Hz | 309.026 Hz | 313.951 Hz |
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| G | 391.995 Hz | 391.111 Hz | 392.438 Hz |
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
| B | 493.883 Hz | 495.000 Hz | 490.548 Hz |
| Db | 277.183 Hz | 278.437 Hz | 279.067 Hz |
Related Scales
Transposing Instruments: Eb Whole Tone Scale
Eb is a natural key for B♭ instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax), which sound a major second lower than written. B♭ instruments reading in C produce Eb concert pitch. E♭ instruments (alto sax, baritone sax) reading in Eb sound a major sixth lower.