Scale degrees · E♭ major
The 4 of E♭ is A♭
The 4 (four) of E♭ (E flat, Eb) is A♭ (A flat): a perfect fourth above the root.
E♭ — the root, 1A♭ — the 4
How to find it
Count letters first, the root included: E, F, G, A. A 4th lands on A.
Then the sound: a perfect fourth is 5 semitones above E♭, and the A that is 5 semitones up is A♭.
That is why it is A♭ and not G♯: G♯ is the same key on the piano, but from E♭ it would be a 3rd, not a 4th.
Where you meet it
The 4 sits a half step above the major 3rd. In a sus chord it takes the 3rd's place; an octave up it is the 11.
In E♭sus4:
E♭ · A♭ · B♭
The 4 in every key
| Key | The 4 |
|---|---|
| C | F |
| G | C |
| D | G |
| A | D |
| E | A |
| B | E |
| F♯ | B |
| D♭ | G♭ |
| A♭ | D♭ |
| E♭ | A♭ |
| B♭ | E♭ |
| F | B♭ |
Every degree of E♭
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