E-flat minor
E-flat minor is a key of the tonal family minor, built on the root E-flat. The key of E-flat minor is written in musical notation with six ♭ (b, E-flat, A-flat, D-flat, G-flat, C-flat). The corresponding scale and the fundamental chord of this key (the tonic E-flat-B) are also designated by the term E-flat minor.
Key classification
| Keys and their accidentals | |||||||||||||||
| Portent: | 7 ♭ | 6 ♭ | 5 ♭ | 4 ♭ | 3 ♭ | 2 ♭ | 1 ♭ | 0 ♭/♯ | 1 ♯ | 2 ♯ | 3 ♯ | 4 ♯ | 5 ♯ | 6 ♯ | 7 ♯ |
| Major keys: | Ces | Ges | Des | As | It | B | F | C | G | D | A | E | H | F# | C sharp |
| Minor keys: | as | it | b | f | c | g | d | a | e | h | F# | cis | gis | dis | ais |
Questions and Answers
Q: What is E-flat minor?
A: E-flat minor, also known as E♭ minor, is a minor scale based on the note of E-flat. It has six flats in its key signature.
Q: What is the relative major of E-flat minor?
A: The relative major of E-flat minor is G-flat major.
Q: What is the parallel major to E-flat minor?
A: The parallel major to E-flat minor is E-flat major.
Q: What is the enharmonic equivalent of this key?
A: The enharmonic equivalent of this key is D-sharp minor.
Q: Is this key used often in orchestral music?
A: This key is not used much in orchestral music, and usually only to modulate between other keys.
Q: Are there any famous pieces written in this key?
A: Yes, some famous pieces written in this key include Johann Sebastian Bach's Prelude No 8 from Book 1 of his Well Tempered Clavier, Prokofiev's Symphony No 6, Rachmaninov's "Elegie" Op 3 No 1 and Études Tableaux Op 39 #5, "'Round Midnight" and "Take Five" by jazz musicians, Beethoven's Christ on the Mount of Olives oratorio and Gustav Mahler's Eighth Symphony second movement.
