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Scale · Reference entry

E♭ Whole Tone Scale

Whole Tone Scale · E♭ – F – G – A – B – D♭ – E♭ · intervals P1-M2-M3-A4-A5-m7

The E♭ Whole Tone Scale contains the notes E♭, F, G, A, B, and D♭. Its step pattern is W-W-W-W-W-W. Six notes, all whole steps apart — symmetrical and dreamlike, the impressionist sound of Debussy.

At the keyboard

Eb · F · G · A · B · Db
Flashcards · Scale
Three questions on E♭ Whole Tone Scale
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The E♭ Whole Tone scale contains six notes: E♭, F, G, A, B, and D♭. It follows the whole-step / half-step pattern W-W-W-W-W-W.

E♭ Whole Tone Scale Notes

DegreeNameNoteInterval
1RootE♭P1
2Major 2ndFM2
3Major 3rdGM3
♯4Augmented 4thAA4
♯5Augmented 5thBA5
♭7Minor 7thD♭m7
8OctaveE♭P8

Key Signature

The E♭ Whole Tone Scale doesn’t line up with a single major or minor key, so it has no standard key signature. Its notes are written with accidentals as needed.

Accidentals

E♭D♭

E♭ Whole Tone Scale — Frequently Asked Questions

What are the notes of the E♭ Whole Tone Scale on piano?
The E♭ Whole Tone Scale uses the notes E♭ – F – G – A – B – D♭ – E♭. Play them in order from the root up to the octave, hands separately first, then together.
What notes are in the Eb Whole Tone Scale?
The Eb Whole Tone Scale contains six notes: Eb – F – G – A – B – Db. The notes table above shows each note with its scale degree and interval from the root.
How many sharps or flats does Eb Whole Tone have?
The Eb Whole Tone Scale doesn't correspond to a single major or minor key, so it has no standard key signature. Its notes are written with accidentals as needed: E♭, D♭.
What does the Eb Whole Tone Scale sound like?
The Eb Whole Tone Scale has a dreamy, ambiguous quality with no half-steps — used by Debussy and in dream sequences. Listen to the audio playback above to hear the character on every note.

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References & Further Reading

The note names, intervals, fingering, and harmony on this scale page are grounded in the following sources. Public domain treatises and scores are linked to their full text; primary data is piano.org's own interval-derived reference dataset — continuously maintained and human-verified, with no fixed publication date.

  1. 1

    Jadassohn, Salomon(1883)

    A Manual of Harmony

    Public domain treatise
  2. 2

    Prout, Ebenezer(1889)

    Harmony: Its Theory and Practice

    Public domain treatise
  3. 3

    Chopin, Frédéric(1839)

    Prelude in E♭ major, Op. 28 No. 19

    Public domain score
  4. 4

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Entry reviewed and maintained by Justin Evans. Corrections are read and applied.Report an error

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