Chords in Eb Aeolian

Eb Aeolian is built from the notes Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb and Db. Its scale carries 6 flats. Harmonising that scale in thirds gives seven chords — 3 majors, 3 minors and 1 diminished — starting on Ebm as the i. The chord on the fifth degree is Bbm rather than a major V, so Eb Aeolian has no leading tone and resolves by step and color instead of by dominant pull — the sound that separates it from a plain Eb major.

Beyond those seven, Eb Aeolian commonly borrows Eb (I), Fm (ii), Gm (iii), Ab (IV) and Bb (V) from the parallel major — the mixture chords that give a progression somewhere unexpected to go.