Notes and intervals of E♭ major
- E♭1 · root
- G3 · major third
- B♭5 · perfect fifth
It's the basic chord of almost any song: it works as a point of arrival (the tonic) and as a passing chord.
Progressions with E♭
The basic progression: I – IV – V – I
With these three chords you can play along to hundreds of songs in E♭ major.
The pop progression: I – V – vi – IV
It's the backbone of a huge number of ballads, pop songs and reggaeton hits.
Which keys contain E♭ major?
E♭ belongs to 6 keys: in each one it plays a different role depending on the degree (the Roman numeral).
| Key | Degree |
|---|---|
| E♭ major | I |
| A♭ major | V |
| B♭ major | IV |
| C natural minor | III |
| F natural minor | VII |
| G natural minor | VI |
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the E♭ major chord?
E♭ major (E♭) has 3 notes: E♭ (root), G (major third), B♭ (perfect fifth).
How do you play E♭ major on guitar?
The most common shape uses a barre at fret 6: x 6 8 8 8 6 (from the 6th to the 1st string). Barre fret 6 with your index finger, from the 5th to the 1st string. Finger 3 (ring finger) on fret 8 of the 4th string (D). Finger 3 (ring finger) on fret 8 of the 3rd string (G). Finger 3 (ring finger) on fret 8 of the 2nd string (B). Do not play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.
Is E♭ the same as D♯?
Yes: E♭ major and D♯ major sound the same and are played the same way (they are enharmonic). The spelling depends on the song’s key; you will see both names in sheet music and songbooks.
What is the difference between E♭ major and D♯ minor?
Only the third changes: E♭ major uses G, and D♯ minor uses F♯. That note is what makes the chord sound bright (major) or darker (minor).
How do you write E-flat major as a chord symbol?
It's written E♭; you'll also see E♭M or E♭maj. Letter-name notation corresponds to fixed-do note names as follows: C = Do, D = Re, E = Mi, F = Fa, G = Sol, A = La, and B = Si.