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)	MIDI note number
E♭₋₁	E♭͵͵͵ or ͵͵͵E♭ or EEEE♭	Subsubcontra	9.723	3
E♭₀	E♭͵͵ or ͵͵E♭ or EEE♭	Subcontra	19.445	15
E♭₁	E♭͵ or ͵E♭ or EE♭	Contra	38.891	27
E♭₂	E♭	Great	77.782	39
E♭₃	e♭	Small	155.563	51
E♭₄	e♭′	One-lined	311.127	63
E♭₅	e♭′′	Two-lined	622.254	75
E♭₆	e♭′′′	Three-lined	1244.508	87
E♭₇	e♭′′′′	Four-lined	2489.016	99
E♭₈	e♭′′′′′	Five-lined	4978.032	111
E♭₉	e♭′′′′′′	Six-lined	9956.063	123
E♭₁₀	e♭′′′′′′′	Seven-lined	19912.127	N/A

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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