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Eb Major Chord

Eb major contains E flat, G and B flat. It rests in E flat major, but the same notes lead into A flat when E flat becomes the dominant. G is the third to listen for in the minor comparison.

  • Notes: E flat-G-B flat
  • Symbol: Eb
  • Home chord of E flat major
  • Leads to A flat
Switch chordEb

How to play an Eb major chord

Notes: Eb - G - Bb · symbol Eb

  • Root position

    Eb - G - Bb
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-3-5 · Left 5-3-1

  • 1st inversion

    G - Bb - Eb
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-2-5 · Left 5-3-1

  • 2nd inversion

    Bb - Eb - G
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-3-5 · Left 5-2-1

Where does Eb major belong?

All three notes come from the E flat major scale, so Eb major is the home chord of that key.
Press play on the role cards to hear the same chord do different jobs elsewhere; Diatonic Chords explains the numbered roles.

  • In Eb majorHome
    I

    A song in Eb major keeps coming back to this chord.

    AbIVBbVEbI
  • In Ab majorTension
    V

    It pulls back to Ab: G wants to rise one half step to A flat.

    AbIDbIVEbVAbI
  • In Bb majorA step away
    IV

    A warm move away from Bb, softer than the V that follows.

    BbIEbIVFVBbI
  • In Ab minorMinor-key dominant
    V

    Harmonic minor raises the third to G, so Abm sounds truly finished.

    AbmiDbmivEbVAbmi

Progressions to try

  • EbAbBbEb

    I-IV-V-I in E flat major returns after B flat.

  • EbBbCmAb

    The I-V-vi-IV loop visits C minor before A flat turns it around.

  • AbDbEbAb

    Eb is V in A flat major; the final Ab answers it.

  • AbmDbmEbAbm

    Eb is the major V in A flat minor, with G natural leading to Ab.

Which shape should you use?

On guitar, The x68886 barre is a movable choice. The x65343 grip starts lower and spreads your fingers farther.

On ukulele, 0331 includes an open string; 3336 is a higher alternative.

On piano, choose the first inversion when coming from the nearby chord A flat-C-E flat. Play Eb as G-B flat-E flat: E flat stays in place while A flat moves to G and C moves to B flat.

What are the inversions?

E flat is the root. G is the major third, four semitones above it; B flat is the fifth, seven semitones above it.

  • Root position: E flat-G-B flat, with E flat lowest.
  • First inversion: G-B flat-E flat, written Eb/G when G is the lowest note.
  • Second inversion: B flat-E flat-G, written Eb/Bb when B flat is the lowest note.

A separate bass instrument can change the lowest note even when the right hand plays an inversion. Chord Inversions explains what the slash tells the player.

How does Eb minor differ?

Keep E flat and B flat; lower only G to G flat. The result is E flat-G flat-B flat, the Eb minor chord. Use the comparer to hear that single change before judging the whole sound.

  • Eb

    Eb - G - Bb
    C4

    Eb major

  • Ebm

    Eb - Gb - Bb
    C4

    Eb minor

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