Eb Harmonic major
Major with a lowered 6th degree; it combines a major tonic with minor-subdominant colour.
Octaves
Musical context
How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- Eb Harmonic major
- Family
- Harmonic scales
- Note count
- 7
- Step formula
- W – W – H – W – H – W+H – H
- Numeric formula
- 0-2-2-1-2-1-3-1
Notes & degrees
1Ebroot
2Fmajor 2nd
3Gmajor 3rd
4Abperfect 4th
5Bbperfect 5th
b6Cbminor 6th
7Dmajor 7th
Construction
- Overview
- Major with a lowered 6th degree; it combines a major tonic with minor-subdominant colour.
- Application in music
- The lowered 6th produces minor subdominant iv in a major context and supports the iv – I move.
- Interval formula
- EbWFWGHAbWBbHCbWHD
Chords by degree
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IEbpoint of resttonic
IIIGdefines modal qualitythird
VBbsupports the tonic sonorityfifth
Typical resolutions & tensions
VIIDD
IEbEb
In typical voice leading, the leading tone rises by semitone to tonic.
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 Harmonic major looks on guitar.
Circle of fifths
The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.
Connections
Practice
Keyboard Trainer
Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.