Eb Chromatic scale

All twelve pitch classes of the octave in semitone order; tonal hierarchy comes only from context.

Octaves

Musical context

How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.

Theory

General info

Name
Eb Chromatic scale
Family
Symmetric scales
Note count
12
Step formula
H – H – H – H – H – H – H – H – H – H – H – H
Numeric formula
0-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1

Notes & degrees

1Ebroot
b2Fbminor 2nd
2Fmajor 2nd
b3Gbminor 3rd
3Gmajor 3rd
4Abperfect 4th
b5Adim 5th
5Bbperfect 5th
b6Cbminor 6th
6Cmajor 6th
b7Dbminor 7th
7Dmajor 7th

Construction

Overview
All twelve pitch classes of the octave in semitone order; tonal hierarchy comes only from context.
Application in music
Has no key of its own. Used for chromatic passing and neighbor tones.
Interval formula
Eb
H
Fb
H
F
H
Gb
H
G
H
Ab
H
A
H
Bb
H
Cb
H
C
H
Db
H
D

Tensions & resolutions

Stable degrees

IEbnominal centretonic

Typical resolutions & tensions

IIIGG
IVAbAb
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IEbEb
IIFF
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.

This scale on guitar 🎸

See how Eb Chromatic scale looks on guitar.

Explore

Circle of fifths

The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.

CAmGEmDBmAF#mEC#mBG#mF#D#mDbBbmAbFmEbCmBbGmFDmEbmajor
Relative key
Dominant
Subdominant
Key signature
3 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab)

Connections

Practice

Keyboard Trainer

Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.

Open Trainer

Frequently Asked Questions