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Guitar chords · Dominant 7th

E♭7 chord on guitar (Eb7)

E♭7 (E♭ ) has four notes: E♭, G, B♭ and D♭, the , 3, 5 and ♭7.

Shapes

How to play E♭7

Strum a shape to hear it, or pick it one string at a time. R marks the ; the other numbers are the chord tones.

E♭7 has no common . Play it as the A shape at 6 or the E shape at fret 11. A keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • A shape · fret 6

    6fr×R5♭735E♭B♭D♭GB♭
  • E shape · fret 11

    11frR5♭735RE♭B♭D♭GB♭E♭
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes E♭7 dominant 7th

A chord is a major chord with a minor 7th added. Its 3rd and 7th are a apart, and that tension pulls it to the chord a 5th below: the V7–I move that ends so many phrases. It is also the sound of the blues.

  • 1Root: the note the chord is named after. Keep it.
  • 3Essential: makes the chord what it is. Never drop it.
  • 5Optional: drop it first when you run out of fingers.

The 3rd and the ♭7th make E♭7 a chord; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. E♭Rroot
  2. G3essential
  3. B♭5optional
  4. D♭♭7essential
EADGBE0135791215E♭E♭E♭E♭E♭E♭E♭GB♭D♭GB♭D♭GB♭GB♭D♭GB♭D♭GB♭D♭GB♭D♭GB♭D♭G
  • E♭, the root
  • Other chord tones

E♭7 usually resolves to A♭ or A♭m, the chord a 5th below: the V7–I move.

E♭7 and D♯7 are the same chord with two names: same , same sound. Which one you see depends on the key the song is written in.

Keys

Keys with E♭7

E♭7 belongs to three keys: A♭ major (V7), A♭ minor (V7, ) and F minor (VII7).

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Progressions

Progressions with E♭7

Common progressions that use E♭7, each in a key that spells it E♭7. The outlined chord is E♭7.

  • Jazz ii–V–I in A♭ major

    ii7 – V7 – Imaj7

    1. B♭m7
    2. E♭7
    3. A♭maj7

    Each chord falls a fifth to the next — a walk anticlockwise around the circle.

    Heard in Autumn Leaves, Fly Me to the Moon

  • 12-bar blues in E♭ major

    I7 – I7 – I7 – I7 – IV7 – IV7 – I7 – I7 – V7 – IV7 – I7 – V7

    1. E♭7
    2. E♭7
    3. E♭7
    4. E♭7
    5. A♭7
    6. A♭7
    7. E♭7
    8. E♭7
    9. B♭7
    10. A♭7
    11. E♭7
    12. B♭7

    Dominant 7th chords on I, IV and V across twelve bars. The foundation of blues and early rock 'n' roll.

    Heard in Johnny B. Goode, Pride and Joy, Hound Dog

Slash chords

E♭7 over another bass note

A keeps E♭7 on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • E♭7/G

    E♭7 with its 3rd, G, in the bass: the first inversion.

  • E♭7/B♭

    E♭7 with its 5th, B♭, in the bass: the second inversion.

  • E♭7/D♭

    E♭7 with its ♭7th, D♭, in the bass: the third inversion.

Questions

E♭7, in short

What notes are in the E♭7 chord?
E♭7 (E♭ ) has four notes: E♭, G, B♭ and D♭, the , 3, 5 and ♭7.
How do you play E♭7 on guitar?
E♭7 has no common . Play it as the A shape at 6 or the E shape at fret 11.
What key is E♭7 in?
E♭7 belongs to three keys: A♭ major (V7), A♭ minor (V7, ) and F minor (VII7).
Is E♭7 the same as D♯7?
Yes: same frets, same sound, different name. E♭7 is the spelling in A♭ major, A♭ minor and F minor; D♯7 only in G♯ minor.
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