The ♭6 of E♭ is C♭
The ♭6 (flat six, written b6) of E♭ (E flat, Eb) is C♭ (C flat): a minor sixth above the root.
How to find it
Count letters first, the root included: E, F, G, A, B, C. A 6th lands on C.
Then the sound: a minor sixth is 8 semitones above E♭, and the C that is 8 semitones up is C♭.
That is why it is C♭ and not B: B is the same key on the piano, but from E♭ it would be a 5th, not a 6th.
Where you meet it
The ♭6 is the 6th of the natural minor scale, and the root of ♭VI, a chord major keys often borrow from their minor.
In the scale E♭ Aeolian (natural minor):
E♭ · F · G♭ · A♭ · B♭ · C♭ · D♭
The ♭6 in every key
| Key | The ♭6 |
|---|---|
| C | A♭ |
| G | E♭ |
| D | B♭ |
| A | F |
| E | C |
| B | G |
| F♯ | D |
| D♭ | B𝄫 |
| A♭ | F♭ |
| E♭ | C♭ |
| B♭ | G♭ |
| F | D♭ |
Every degree of E♭
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