Scale degrees · E♭ major

The ♭5 of E♭ is B𝄫

The ♭5 (flat five, written b5) of E♭ (E flat, Eb) is B𝄫 (B double flat): a diminished fifth above the root.

E♭ — the root, 1B𝄫 — the ♭5

How to find it

Count letters first, the root included: E, F, G, A, B. A 5th lands on B.

Then the sound: a diminished fifth is 6 semitones above E♭, and the B that is 6 semitones up is B𝄫.

That is why it is B𝄫 and not A: A is the same key on the piano, but from E♭ it would be a 4th, not a 5th.

Where you meet it

The ♭5 halves the octave: a tritone above E♭. It is the 5th of the half-diminished and the diminished chord.

In E♭m7♭5:

E♭ · G♭ · B𝄫 · D♭

The ♭5 in every key

KeyThe ♭5
CG♭
GD♭
DA♭
AE♭
EB♭
BF
F♯C
D♭A𝄫
A♭E𝄫
E♭B𝄫
B♭F♭
FC♭

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