E♭m6 chord on guitar

E♭m6 is E♭, G♭, B♭ and C. The usual shape is x-x-1-3-1-2. Press Play to hear it, then try it at half speed.

x-x-1-3-1-2 · movable · medium

Notes: E♭ · G♭ · B♭ · C
Formula: 1 · ♭3 · 5 · 6
First shape: x-x-1-3-1-2

How to play E♭m6 on guitar

Shape 1, x-x-1-3-1-2, reading from the low E string on the left:

E♭: index finger, 1st fret of the D string.
C: middle finger, 1st fret of the B string.
G♭: ring finger, 2nd fret of the high E string.
B♭: pinky finger, 3rd fret of the G string.
Strum from the D string down; the low E and A strings stay silent.

This shape uses your pinky. It feels weak at first; press with the tip and let the finger stay curved.
With four strings sounding, a shorter strum works best: start on the first played string and stop at the high E.

Other ways to play E♭m6

11-13-13-11-13-11: barre shape at the 11th fret, medium. Root on the 6th string: move it up or down and it names a different minor sixth chord.
x-6-8-5-7-x: movable shape at the 5th fret, medium. This is the open Am6 shape with a barre behind it, root on the 5th string.
11-9-8-8-11-8: partial barre shape at the 8th fret, medium. A high voicing for when the low version is taken by another instrument.

Capo shortcuts for E♭m6

A capo turns an open chord into E♭m6: capo on the 1st fret and play the open Dm6 shape (x-x-0-2-0-1) or capo on the 6th fret and play the open Am6 shape (x-0-2-2-1-2). Handy when the rest of the song's chords also have open shapes in that position.

Changing from E♭m6 to the chords around it

The chords E♭m6 usually goes to, and what changes under your fingers.

A♭ (V in D♭ major): E♭m6 (x-x-1-3-1-2) 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♭ and C, which is why the change sounds smooth. A♭ on guitar
F♯ (IV in D♭ major): E♭m6 (x-x-1-3-1-2) to F♯ (2-4-4-3-2-2): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the G string, 3rd fret, the ring finger goes to the A string, 4th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Shared notes: G♭ and B♭. F♯ on guitar
C♯ (I in D♭ major): E♭m6 (x-x-1-3-1-2) to C♯ (x-4-6-6-6-4): the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 4th fret, the middle finger goes to the D string, 6th fret, your ring finger lands on the G string, 6th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. C♯ on guitar

E♭m6 is E♭ minor with a major sixth added. E♭m6 sounds moody and cinematic and often replaces E♭m as the home chord of a minor jazz tune. On guitar you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.

A short E♭m6 drill

Pick shape 1 one string at a time, low to high: E♭, B♭, C, G♭. Every note should ring clearly; if one thuds, adjust that finger before you strum. Then switch to 11-13-13-11-13-11 and back four times without looking at your hand.

D♯m6 is another spelling of E♭m6. Same shape, same sound.

Where E♭m6 shows up

E♭m6 on piano and ukulele

E♭m6 on piano and ukulele uses the same 4 notes in a different layout. See all three together.

Next to try on guitar

Other minor sixth chords

E♭m6 on guitar: questions

What notes are in E♭m6 on guitar?

E♭, G♭, B♭ and C. In the x-x-1-3-1-2 shape the strings play E♭ (D string), B♭ (G string), C (B string) and G♭ (high E string).

What's the easiest way to play E♭m6 on guitar?

In standard tuning E♭m6 can't use open strings. Begin with x-x-1-3-1-2. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, and in many songs a capo can take over part of the work.

Is E♭m6 a barre chord on guitar?

Not the usual shape: x-x-1-3-1-2 needs no barre. Barre forms exist up the neck if you want a different sound.

Which string does E♭m6 start on?

In the x-x-1-3-1-2 shape the lowest string you play is the D string at the 1st fret, which is E♭, the root. Skip the low E and A strings.

Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside E♭m6. Updated September 2026.