Constructing E♭
Since the key of E♭ major uses the notes in the E♭ major scale, you need to construct the E♭ major scale. Have your guitar with you as you do this. The goal is to identify any sharps or flats.
Write “E♭ Major” under your work from the last lesson. Under that, write out a starting template with all the letter names like this:
E♭ F G A B C D E♭
Do This!
- Since we want an E♭ scale, we need to find an E♭ note to start. Let’s choose the 1st fret of the 4th string. We’ll also label the degree below the note so we keep track of where we are in the scale. Play the starting E♭ note and say out loud, “First degree, E♭.”
- Now, say out loud, “From one to two is a whole step. A whole step higher than E♭ is F.” Move up a whole step (two frets) and play the F.
- Now, say out loud, “From two to three is a whole step. A whole step higher than F is G.” Move up a whole step (two frets) and play the G.
- Now, say out loud, “From three to four is a half-step. A half-step higher than G is A♭.” Move up a half-step (one fret) and play the A♭. Write the ♭ on your paper after the A.
- Now, say out loud, “From four to five is a whole step. A whole step higher than A♭ is B♭.” Move up a whole step (two frets) and play the B♭. Write the ♭ symbol on your paper after B.
- Now, say out loud, “From five to six is a whole step. A whole step higher than B♭ is C.” Move up a whole step (two frets) and play the C.
- Now, say out loud, “From six to seven is a whole step. A whole step higher than C is D.” Move up a whole step (two frets) and play the D.
- Finally, say out loud, “From seven to eight is a half-step. A half-step higher than D is E♭.” Move up a half-step (one fret) and play the E♭.
- There you have it – all the notes in an E♭ major scale, which are all the notes in the key of E♭ major. There are three flats: B♭, E♭, and A♭. So the key signature for B♭ major is: B♭, E♭, and A♭.