E♭ (musical note)

E (E-flat) or mi bémol is the fourth semitone of the solfège.

E Flat

It lies a diatonic semitone above D and a chromatic semitone below E, thus being enharmonic to D (D-sharp) or re dièse. In equal temperament it is also enharmonic with F. However, in some temperaments, D is not the same as E. E is a perfect fourth above B, whereas D is a major third above B.

When calculated in equal temperament with a reference of A above middle C as 440 Hz, the frequency of the E above middle C (or E4) is approximately 311.127 Hz. See pitch (music) for a discussion of historical variations in frequency.

In German nomenclature, it is known as Es, sometimes (especially in the context of musical motifs) abbreviated to S.

Well-known compositions in E-flat major

The prelude to Richard Wagner's Das Rheingold is a famous piece of drone music that begin with a low E flat and builds to more and more elaborate figurations of the chord of E flat major. It is used in this opera to portray the motion of the river Rhine.[1]

Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 (also known as The Emperor) and Symphony No. 3 (also known as the Eroica) are two more well-known piece set in the key of E-flat major. Robert Schumann's Symphony No. 3 (also known as the Rhenish Symphony) is yet another.

Jimi Hendrix's Voodoo Chile is a well-known popular music piece commonly performed in E-flat major.

Designation by octave

Scientific designation Helmholtz designation Octave name Frequency (Hz)
E−1E͵͵͵ or ͵͵͵E or EEEESubsubcontra9.723
E0E͵͵ or ͵͵E or EEESubcontra19.445
E1E͵ or ͵E or EEContra38.891
E2EGreat77.782
E3eSmall155.563
E4eOne-lined311.127
E5eTwo-lined622.254
E6eThree-lined1244.508
E7eFour-lined2489.016
E8eFive-lined4978.032
E9eSix-lined9956.063
E10eSeven-lined19912.127

Scales

Common scales beginning on E

  • E Major: E F G A B C D E
  • E Natural Minor: E F G A B C D E
  • E Harmonic Minor: E F G A B C D E
  • E Melodic Minor Ascending: E F G A B C D E
  • E Melodic Minor Descending: E D C B A G F E

Diatonic scales

  • E Ionian: E F G A B C D E
  • E Dorian: E F G A B C D E
  • E Phrygian: E F G A B C D E
  • E Lydian: E F G A B C D E
  • E Mixolydian: E F G A B C D E
  • E Aeolian: E F G A B C D E
  • E Locrian: E F G A B C D E

Jazz melodic minor

See also

References

  1. Erickson, Robert, Sound Structure in Music, p. 94. University of California Press, 1975 ISBN 0-520-02376-5
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