E♭ minor chord (E♭m)
E♭m is E♭, G♭ and B♭: 1–♭3–5 built on E♭. Below: guitar, piano and ukulele, each playable.
On guitar
x-x-1-3-4-2 · movable · medium
- Notes
- E♭ · G♭ · B♭
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · 5
- First shape
- x-x-1-3-4-2
E♭m on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · E♭–G♭–B♭ · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- E♭ · G♭ · B♭
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · 5
E♭m on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
3-3-2-1 · movable · medium
- Notes
- E♭ · G♭ · B♭
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · 5
- First shape
- 3-3-2-1
Where E♭m usually goes next
Three changes cover most of what E♭m does in songs.
- E♭m → A♭ (V in D♭ major)
Guitar: E♭m (x-x-1-3-4-2) to A♭ (4-6-6-5-4-4): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 4th fret, the middle finger goes to the G string, 5th fret, move the ring finger to the A string, 6th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. The two chords share E♭, which is why the change sounds smooth.
Piano: E♭m to A♭: play A♭ in 2nd inversion (E♭–A♭–C) and E♭ stays under the same finger, while G♭ moves up to A♭ and B♭ up to C. A♭ - E♭m → F♯ (IV in D♭ major)
Guitar: E♭m (x-x-1-3-4-2) to F♯ (2-4-4-3-2-2): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 2nd fret, the middle finger goes to the G string, 3rd fret, move the ring finger to the A string, 4th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. Shared notes: G♭ and B♭.
Piano: E♭m to F♯: play F♯ in 2nd inversion (C♯–F♯–A♯) and F♯ and A♯ stay under the same fingers, while E♭ moves down to C♯. F♯ - E♭m → C♯ (I in D♭ major)
Guitar: E♭m (x-x-1-3-4-2) to C♯ (x-4-6-6-6-4): the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 4th fret, move the middle finger to the D string, 6th fret, the ring finger goes to the G string, 6th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit.
Piano: E♭m to C♯: play C♯ in root position (C♯–E♯–G♯), while E♭ moves down to C♯, G♭ down to E♯ and B♭ down to G♯. C♯
Guitar with a capo: capo 1, Dm shape; capo 6, Am shape. Ukulele with a capo: capo 1, Dm shape; capo 3, Cm shape; capo 4, Bm shape; capo 6, Am shape.
How E♭m is built
E♭m has the gentle, slightly melancholy sound of a minor chord. It is home base in E♭ minor and a common guest in major keys.
From E♭, go 3 half steps up to G♭ then 4 half steps up to B♭. You may also see it as D♯m: same keys, same frets.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| E♭ | root | 0 | |
| G♭ | minor third | 3 | |
| B♭ | perfect fifth | 7 |
Keys and progressions with E♭m
In major keys, E♭m is ii in D♭ major, iii in B major and vi in F♯ major. In minor keys it is i in E♭ minor, iv in B♭ minor and v in G♯ minor.
In E♭ minor, i–VI–III–VII is E♭m – C♭ – G♭ – D♭. the minor anthem
i–iv–V in E♭ minor runs E♭m – A♭m – B♭ – E♭m. the minor cadence
Play i–VII–VI–V in E♭ minor and you get E♭m – D♭ – C♭ – B♭. the Andalusian cadence
E♭m – D♭ – C♭ – D♭: that's i–VII–VI–VII in the key of E♭ minor. the epic minor loop
Chords close to E♭m
- E♭m and E♭ differ by one note: G♭ in E♭m, G in E♭. They share E♭ and B♭. E♭
- E♭m and F♯ differ by one note: E♭ in E♭m, C♯ in F♯. They share G♭ and B♭. F♯
Chords that share most of their notes with E♭m: Cm7♭5, E♭m7, E♭m6, F♯6, Bmaj7, A♭9.
Every E♭ chord
E♭ minor chord: questions
What notes are in the E♭ minor chord?
E♭, G♭ and B♭. E♭m is built 1–♭3–5 from E♭: G♭ is the minor third and B♭ is the perfect fifth.
How do you play E♭m on guitar?
The usual shape is x-x-1-3-4-2 (movable). All 3 guitar shapes.
How do you play E♭m on piano?
Play E♭, G♭ and B♭ with right-hand fingers 1-3-5. E♭ sits on the black key between D and E. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play E♭m on ukulele?
3-3-2-1 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is E♭m in?
In major keys, E♭m is ii in D♭ major, iii in B major and vi in F♯ major. In minor keys it is i in E♭ minor, iv in B♭ minor and v in G♯ minor.
What's the difference between E♭m and E♭?
E♭m and E♭ differ by one note: G♭ in E♭m, G in E♭. They share E♭ and B♭.
All three instruments are drawn and played from E♭, G♭ and B♭ by the same engine. Updated September 2026.