What is the relative minor of E♭ major?

C minor — same three-flat key signature.

What are the chords in the key of E♭ major?

E♭ major (I), F minor (ii), G minor (iii), A♭ major (IV), B♭ major (V), C minor (vi), and D diminished (vii°).

Key of Eb major — notes, key signature, and chords

E♭ major has three flats — B♭, E♭, and A♭ — and is a warm, full-bodied key especially popular in jazz, swing, and classical works featuring brass. Mozart's Symphony No. 39, Beethoven's "Eroica" Symphony, and most big-band charts use E♭ as a home key. It sits three counter-clockwise steps from C on the circle of fifths.

Key signature

3flats

1.B♭
2.E♭
3.A♭

Added in the standard order of flats.

Diatonic chords

The seven triads built on each scale degree. These are the chords you hear used most in Eb major:

Roman	Chord	Quality	Notes
I	Eb	major	Eb · G · Bb
ii	Fm	minor	F · Ab · C
iii	Gm	minor	G · Bb · D
IV	Ab	major	Ab · C · Eb
V	Bb	major	Bb · D · F
vi	Cm	minor	C · Eb · G
vii°	D°	diminished	D · F · Ab

Common progressions

In E♭, I–V–vi–IV is E♭–B♭–Cm–A♭. The ii–V–I jazz cadence is Fm–B♭–E♭, ubiquitous in standards. Many famous ballads and jazz heads ("Misty," "Body and Soul") are in E♭ or B♭, partly because the key suits horns.

Relative minor

The relative minor of Eb major is C minor — it shares the same key signature, just centred on the 6th degree of the Eb major scale (C). A piece can move between Eb major and C minor freely without any change of accidentals.

Common mistakes

The three flats are added in order: B♭, E♭, A♭. A common mistake is forgetting the A♭ — the 4th degree is flat, not natural. Pianists sometimes hesitate on E♭ chords because the topography (mostly black keys with one white) is less familiar than C's all-white chords.

Drill it

The Circle of Fifths trainer drills every key signature — Eb major included — with timed flash cards and best-time tracking.

Open the Circle of Fifths Trainer →Or try today's Etudle puzzle

Frequently asked

How many flats does E♭ major have?: E♭ major has three flats: B♭, E♭, and A♭.
What are the notes in the E♭ major scale?: E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D.
What is the relative minor of E♭ major?: C minor — same three-flat key signature.
What are the chords in the key of E♭ major?: E♭ major (I), F minor (ii), G minor (iii), A♭ major (IV), B♭ major (V), C minor (vi), and D diminished (vii°).