Eb9 Chord
Eb9 is a dominant seventh plus F, the ninth. Its full spelling has five different notes, so a practical guitar or ukulele grip may leave out a less essential chord tone.
- Notes: E flat-G-B flat-D flat-F
- Symbol: Eb9
- V9 in Ab major
- Seventh and ninth
Eb9
How to play an Eb9 chord
Notes: Eb - G - Bb - Db - FEb9
Root position
Eb - G - Bb - Db - F1st inversion
G - Bb - Db - F - Eb2nd inversion
Bb - Db - F - Eb - G3rd inversion
Db - F - Eb - G - Bb
Where does Eb9 belong?
In Ab major, Eb9 extends the V7 chord before it resolves to the tonic.
Play the role cards to hear how its surrounding chords change the job it does; Diatonic Chords explains the basic numbered roles.
- Dominant with a ninthV9
A V7 with the ninth on top: the same pull to Ab, a fuller sound.
AbDbEb9V9Ab - Funk and blues homeI9
In funk and blues this is a home chord that never has to resolve.
Eb9I9Ab9Eb9Bb9
Progressions to try
- AbDbEb9Ab
Eb9 is V9 in Ab major; its seventh keeps the dominant pull while the ninth adds another voice.
- Eb9Ab9Eb9Bb9
Treat the repeated Eb9 as a blues home chord, then hear the other ninth chords answer it.
Which shape should you use?
On guitar, the open shape xx1021 is the easiest place to start. The barre shape 11-13-11-12-11-13, at the 11th fret, moves the chord up the neck and sits well between other barre chords.
On ukulele, the open shape 0314 is the easiest place to start. 6536 gives a higher version.
On piano, spread the five-note spelling across both hands: E flat-G-B flat-D flat-F. Move E flat up an octave to reach the first inversion, G-B flat-D flat-F-E flat; the notes remain the same while the lowest voice changes.
What are the inversions?
The first four notes, E flat-G-B flat-D flat, form the dominant seventh. F adds the ninth.
- Root position: E flat-G-B flat-D flat-F, with E flat lowest.
- First inversion: G-B flat-D flat-F-E flat, written Eb9/G if G is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Second inversion: B flat-D flat-F-E flat-G, written Eb9/Bb if B flat is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Third inversion: D flat-F-E flat-G-B flat, written Eb9/Db if D flat is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Fourth inversion: F-E flat-G-B flat-D flat, written Eb9/F if F is lowest in the whole arrangement.
A slash chord names the note in the bass, not merely the lowest note under one hand. Chord Inversions shows how to read that distinction.
How does Eb9 differ from Eb7?
Remove the ninth, F, and the remaining notes form Eb7. The seventh stays, so both chords can still pull toward the same tonic. Try that one-note change on piano, then use the comparer to hear it in the full chord. See Eb7 for the other chord's full spelling and roles.
Eb9
Eb - G - Bb - Db - FEb7
Eb - G - Bb - Db