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Guitar chords · Minor

E♭m chord on guitar (Ebm)

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

Shapes

How to play E♭m

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♭m 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×R5R♭35E♭B♭E♭G♭B♭

  • E shape · fret 11

    11frR5R♭35RE♭B♭E♭G♭B♭E♭
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes E♭m minor

A minor chord lowers the 3rd of the major chord by a . That one note gives it its darker, sadder colour.

  • 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♭m a minor chord; you can leave out the 5th.

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

E♭m and D♯m 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♭m

E♭m belongs to six keys: C♭ major (iii), G♭ major (vi), D♭ major (ii), A♭ minor (v), E♭ minor (i) and B♭ minor (iv).

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♭m

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

  • The pop axis in G♭ major

    I – V – vi – IV

    1. G♭
    2. D♭
    3. E♭m
    4. C♭

    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

  • '50s doo-wop in G♭ major

    I – vi – IV – V

    1. G♭
    2. E♭m
    3. C♭
    4. D♭

    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 E♭ minor

    i – VI – III – VII

    1. E♭m
    2. C♭
    3. G♭
    4. D♭

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

    Heard in Zombie, Numb, Despacito

  • Andalusian cadence in E♭ minor

    i – VII – VI – V

    1. E♭m
    2. D♭
    3. C♭
    4. B♭

    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♭m over another bass note

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

  • E♭m/G♭

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

  • E♭m/B♭

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

  • E♭m/D♭

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

  • E♭m/C

    E♭m over C, a passing bass a major 6th above the , as in E♭m, E♭m/D♭, E♭m/C, C♭.

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♭m, in short

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