E♭ (musical note)

${ \new Staff \with{ \magnifyStaff #3/2 } << \time 2/1 \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f { \clef bass ees1_E-flat \clef treble ees' } >> }$

E♭ (E-flat) or mi bémol is the fourth semitone of the solfège.

It lies a diatonic semitone above D and a chromatic semitone below E, thus being enharmonic to D♯ (D-sharp) or re dièse. In equal temperament it is also enharmonic with F (F-double flat). However, in some temperaments, D♯ is not the same as E♭. E♭ is a perfect fourth above B♭, whereas D♯ is a major third above B.

When calculated in equal temperament with a reference of A above middle C as 440 Hz, the frequency of the E♭ above middle C (or E♭₄) is approximately 311.127 Hz.^[1] See pitch (music) for a discussion of historical variations in frequency.

In German nomenclature, it is known as Es, sometimes (especially in the context of musical motifs, e.g. DSCH motif) abbreviated to S.

Designation by octave

Scientific designation	Helmholtz designation	Octave name	Frequency (Hz)
E♭₋₁	E♭͵͵͵ or ͵͵͵E♭ or EEEE♭	Subsubcontra	9.723
E♭₀	E♭͵͵ or ͵͵E♭ or EEE♭	Subcontra	19.445
E♭₁	E♭͵ or ͵E♭ or EE♭	Contra	38.891
E♭₂	E♭	Great	77.782
E♭₃	e♭	Small	155.563
E♭₄	e♭′	One-lined	311.127
E♭₅	e♭′′	Two-lined	622.254
E♭₆	e♭′′′	Three-lined	1244.508
E♭₇	e♭′′′′	Four-lined	2489.016
E♭₈	e♭′′′′′	Five-lined	4978.032
E♭₉	e♭′′′′′′	Six-lined	9956.063
E♭₁₀	e♭′′′′′′′	Seven-lined	19912.127

Scales

Common scales beginning on E♭

E♭ major: E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C D E♭
E♭ natural minor: E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭
E♭ harmonic minor: E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C♭ D E♭
E♭ melodic minor ascending: E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C D E♭
E♭ melodic minor descending: E♭ D♭ C♭ B♭ A♭ G♭ F E♭

Diatonic scales

E♭ Ionian: E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C D E♭
E♭ Dorian: E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭
E♭ Phrygian: E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭
E♭ Lydian: E♭ F G A B♭ C D E♭
E♭ Mixolydian: E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭
E♭ Aeolian: E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭
E♭ Locrian: E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭ B C♭ D♭ E♭

Jazz melodic minor

E♭ ascending melodic minor: E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C D E♭
E♭ Dorian ♭2: E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭
E♭ Lydian augmented: E♭ F G A B C D E♭
E♭ Lydian dominant: E♭ F G A B♭ C D♭ E♭
E♭ Mixolydian ♭6: E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭
E♭ Locrian ♮2: E♭ F G♭ A♭ B C♭ D♭ E♭
E♭ altered: E♭ F♭ G♭ A B C♭ D♭ E♭

References

^ Suits, B. H. (1998). "Physics of Music Notes - Scales: Just vs Equal Temperament". MTU.edu. Michigan Technological University. Retrieved 5 February 2024.

[1] Suits, B. H. (1998). "Physics of Music Notes - Scales: Just vs Equal Temperament". MTU.edu. Michigan Technological University. Retrieved 5 February 2024.

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