E flat major

Three flats signature

E flat major is a musical key with E flat as its tonic note, using a scale with three flats (B flat, E flat, A flat).

It has a warm, noble quality that made it a favorite for symphonies, brass music, and heroic themes—Beethoven's "Eroica" Symphony is in E flat major.

Jazz musicians favor it because it lies comfortably on many wind instruments.

classical

symphony

Extended composition for orchestra

sonataMulti-movement instrumental composition
concertoSolo-and-orchestra composition
BeethovenGerman classical music giant

Mozart · Brahms · clarinet · horn · piano · orchestra · chamber music · adagio · allegro · prelude

jazz

swing

Suspended recreational seat

improvisationSpontaneous, unplanned creation
bebopFast, complex jazz style
Coltrane"Giant Steps" musician

Miles Davis · saxophone · trumpet · piano · cool jazz · fusion · standards · ballad · groove · comping

theory

chord

Notes sounded simultaneously

triadGroup of three
tonalityMusic organized around tonic
modulationVarying signals to transmit

interval · diatonic · cadence · dominant · subdominant · mediant · key signature · relative minor · transposition · enharmonic

character

heroic

Exceptionally brave and noble

majesticImpressively dignified and beautiful
nobleTitled or virtuous
triumphantJoyfully victorious

bold · radiant · expansive · ceremonial · regal · festive · brilliant · stately · grandeur · splendor

Opposites

mode/quality

E flat majorC minor

Scale starting C, lowered third

tonal center/pitch class

E flat majorA major

Tonality with F♯, C♯, G♯

E major · B major · D major · G major · B flat major

Family

flat, flats, flatten, flattened, flattening, flatly, flatness, flatter, flattest

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Rated G