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Guitar chords · Major

E♭ chord on guitar (Eb)

E♭ (E♭ major) has three notes: E♭, G and B♭, the , 3 and 5.

Shapes

How to play E♭

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♭ 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×R5R35E♭B♭E♭GB♭

  • E shape · fret 11

    11frR5R35RE♭B♭E♭GB♭E♭
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes E♭ major

A major chord stacks a major 3rd and a perfect 5th on the . It is the bright, settled sound most songs start and end on.

  • 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 makes E♭ a major chord; you can leave out the 5th.

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

E♭ and D♯ 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♭

E♭ belongs to seven keys: A♭ major (V), E♭ major (I), B♭ major (IV), A♭ minor (V, ), F minor (VII), C minor (III) and G minor (VI).

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♭

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

  • The pop axis in E♭ major

    I – V – vi – IV

    1. E♭
    2. B♭
    3. Cm
    4. A♭

    Four chords that carry a huge share of modern pop. All four sit next to each other on the circle.

    Heard in Let It Be, No Woman No Cry, With or Without You

  • Three-chord rock in E♭ major

    I – IV – V – IV

    1. E♭
    2. A♭
    3. B♭
    4. A♭

    Tonic, subdominant, dominant: the key and its two neighbours on the outer ring.

    Heard in La Bamba, Twist and Shout, Wild Thing

  • '50s doo-wop in E♭ major

    I – vi – IV – V

    1. E♭
    2. Cm
    3. A♭
    4. B♭

    The vi chord softens the move from I to IV before the V pulls back home.

    Heard in Stand by Me, Every Breath You Take

  • Minor pop in G minor

    i – VI – III – VII

    1. Gm
    2. E♭
    3. B♭
    4. F

    The pop axis rotated to start on the relative minor — same four chords, darker centre.

    Heard in Zombie, Numb, Despacito

  • Andalusian cadence in G minor

    i – VII – VI – V

    1. Gm
    2. F
    3. E♭
    4. D

    A stepwise walk down to a major V borrowed from harmonic minor. Flamenco's signature move.

    Heard in Hit the Road Jack, Runaway, Stray Cat Strut

Slash chords

E♭ over another bass note

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

  • E♭/G

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

  • E♭/B♭

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

  • E♭/D

    E♭ over D, a passing bass a below the , as in E♭, E♭/D, Cm.

  • E♭/D♭

    E♭ over D♭, a passing bass a below the , as in E♭, E♭/D♭, A♭.

Same root

Other chords on D♯ / E♭

Change one or two notes and the same gives a different colour. Compare them by ear.

Questions

E♭, in short

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