fuaranScale Mastery
SCALE · ON ALTO SAXOPHONE

E♭ Aeolian

Natural minor labelled as a mode — the other 'default' tonality.

MEIMIDIHumdrum
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Tempo120 bpm

Playback sounds a major 6th below the written notation — the instrument's concert (sounding) pitch.

Audio source: tonejs-instruments by Nick Brosowsky (MIT)

Engraved by Verovio 6.2.0-43f8060 5 title E♭ Aeolian Verovio
Keyboard
FC♭FC♭FC♭E♭G♭A♭B♭D♭E♭G♭A♭B♭D♭E♭G♭A♭B♭D♭
Related scales
Diatonic chord harmonisation
Same scale, other instruments
Same scale, other tonics
Modes built on this tonic
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Theory reference
Questions
What notes are in the E♭ Aeolian scale?

The E♭ Aeolian scale uses the notes E♭, F, G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭ (one octave; the pattern repeats at higher registers).

What's the Aeolian scale formula?

The Aeolian scale follows the interval pattern W H W W H W W, where W = whole step (2 semitones) and H = half step (1 semitone). Apply that pattern starting on E♭ to get the E♭ Aeolian scale.

What chords work over E♭ Aeolian?

Natural minor's diatonic chords: i minor, ii°, ♭III major, iv minor, v minor, ♭VI major, ♭VII major. The minor-v sounds modal; for stronger pull use V (from harmonic minor).

How do I finger E♭ Aeolian on Alto Saxophone?

On saxophone, scales train fingering + the altissimo register. Practice the entire range — low Bb through high F (or higher with altissimo fingerings) — at each scale.

When would I use the Aeolian scale?

Natural minor labelled as a mode — the other 'default' tonality.