How to play E-flat (Eb) major scale on flute, notes, fingering chart, and concert tips

The E-flat (Eb) major scale on flute is the scale of the key of E-flat or three flats. This implies that its tonic note is E-flat. E-flat major is relative to the key of C minor, parallel to the key of E-flat minor, dominant to the key of B-flat major, and subdominant to the key of A-flat major. Below is a two octaves scale of E-flat major on flute and how it sounds;

e flat major scale on flute

How to play the E-flat major scale on the flute, its notes, and fingering chat

You can only play an E-flat major scale of two octaves on the flute, being between the range of Eb4 to Eb6. You need to use a fingering chart or a particular pattern to play the E-flat major scale on the flute. Below is a guide and finger chart of how to play the E-flat major scale on the flute;

First octave E-flat major scale notes (Eb4 – Eb5) fingering chart for flute

To play the first octave (Eb4 – Eb5) E-flat major scale on the flute, you have to play all the notes naturally except for the B note, E note, and A note which you will have to flatten. Your fingering needs to be accurate in other to produce a perfect scale. Below is a chart for the first octave E-flat major scale on the flute;

e flat major scale for flute first octave

Second octave E-flat major scale notes (Eb5 – Eb6) fingering chart for flute

To play the second octave (Eb5 – Eb6) E-flat major scale on the flute, you have to play all the notes naturally except for the B note, E note, and A note which you will have to flatten. Your fingering needs to be accurate in other to produce a perfect scale. Learning the scale might be hard for beginners. You will also have to tighten your lips to produce higher-pitched notes. Below is a chart for the second octave E-flat major scale on the flute;

e flat major scale for flute second octave

Concert E-flat major scale

While playing the E-flat major scale, every note is played in its natural form except for the B note E note, and A note. This means that all notes except the B note, E note, and A note are played naturally while playing this scale on the concert flute, Indian or Bansuri flute, Native American flute, pan flute, Arabian flute, and any other flute.

If you play an alto flute or any other transposable flute, you can play the E-flat major scale without any transposition. But while running the E-flat major scale with another instrument that is not transposable, you will then have to transpose to the right key in other to sound the same with them in pitch.

E-flat major scale flute notes and arpeggio

The E-flat major scale can be played up to two octaves on a C flute, the standard concert flute. The first note of this scale on the C flute is the E-flat note on the first line of the treble clef which in the range is the Eb4.

The notes or alphabets that you will play to get this scale correctly include; Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb. The two-octave arpeggio of this scale has its notes as Eb, G, Bb, Eb, G, Bb, Eb, Bb, G, Eb, Bb, G, Eb.

Notable flute compositions in E-flat major

  • Concert for Piano, Flute, Cello and Strings, Op.89 by Vincent d’Indy
  • Concertino for 2 Flutes in E-flat major, MWV 10.31 by Johann Melchior Molter
  • Concerto in E-flat major for Horn, Flute, Violin and Bass by Schultz
  • Duet for 2 Flutes, TWV 40:132 by Georg Philipp Telemann
  • Duet for 2 Flutes, TWV 40:135 by Georg Philipp Telemann
  • Flute Concerto in E-flat major, GroF 741 by Antoine Mahaut
  • Flute Concerto in E-flat major, QV 5:89 by Johann Joachim Quantz
  • Flute Concerto No.3 in E-flat major by Johann Baptist Vanhal
  • Flute Concerto No.7 in E-flat major by Tranquille Berbiguier
  • Flute Quartet in E-flat major by Friedrich Hartmann Graf
  • Flute Quintet in E-flat major, G.424 by Luigi Boccherini
  • Flute Quintet in E-flat major, H.5905/3 by Franz Anton Hoffmeister
  • Flute Quintet, Op.66 by Franz Krommer
  • Flute Sonata in E-flat major, H.545 by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
  • Flute Sonata in E-flat major, QV 1:54 by Johann Joachim Quantz
  • Flute Sonata, Op.64 by Friedrich Kuhlau
  • Flute Trio in E-flat major, Op.10 No.2 by Johann Wilhelm Gabrielski
  • Flutes in the woods by André Gédalge
  • Concert piece No.3 on ‘The Magic Flute’, Op.121 by Charles Samuel Bovy-Lysberg
  • Nocturne for Flute and Piano by Jean-Louis Tulou
  • Nocturne for Flute, Horn and Piano, Op.31 by Rudolf Tillmetz
  • Notturno for Flute Quartet No.6 by Adalbert Gyrowetz
  • Sonata for Flute and Harp in E-flat major by Joseph Bologne Saint-Georges
  • Sonata No.2 for 2 Flutes by Alessandro Besozzi
  • Trio for 2 Flutes and Cello in E-flat major, Op.7 No.4 by Franz Anton Hoffmeister
  • Trio Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harpsichord, Op.55 by Niels Johannes Legarth Iversen