In G minor, E is E (flat)The key signature of G minor puts a flat on every E.

Is E flat in G minor?

In G minor, E is E♭: the key signature puts a flat on every E, in every octave, for as long as that signature stands.

The signature of G minor is two flats, B♭ and E♭. E♭ is one of them, which is why you never see a flat written next to the note — the signature at the start of the staff already said it.

Spelled from the tonic, the G minor scale runs G, A, B♭, C, D, E♭, F — one of each letter, each carrying whatever the signature gives it. The staff above draws the G minor signature and the note E♭ inside it — exactly as you would meet it in a piece written in this key.

Every letter in G minor

G minor has two flats, B♭ and E♭. That fixes what each of the seven letters is called in this key:

  • C is C (natural — the signature leaves it alone)
  • D is D (natural — the signature leaves it alone)
  • E is E♭ — the letter on this page
  • F is F (natural — the signature leaves it alone)
  • G is G (natural — the signature leaves it alone)
  • A is A (natural — the signature leaves it alone)
  • B is B♭

G minor shares its signature with its relative B♭ major — the same sharps or flats, so E is E♭ there too.

Frequently asked questions

Is E flat in G minor?
Yes. G minor has two flats, B♭ and E♭, and E♭ is one of them, so every E in the key is played as E♭.
What accidental does E carry in G minor?
E is E♭ (flat). The signature of G minor is two flats, B♭ and E♭. E♭ is one of them, which is why you never see a flat written next to the note — the signature at the start of the staff already said it.
What sharps or flats are in G minor?
G minor has two flats, B♭ and E♭ — written in that order at the start of the staff.
How is the G minor scale spelled?
From the tonic up: G, A, B♭, C, D, E♭, F. Each letter appears once, carrying whatever the key signature gives it.