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E♭ minor 7th chord on bass (E♭m7)
Also called or written E♭m7 or E♭min7
E♭ minor 7th is built from E♭, G♭, B♭, and D♭. The 11th-fret voicing stretches the fretting hand across four frets, making it a challenging shape for bassists.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7
- Root positionE♭–G♭–B♭–D♭E♭m711-13-11-11
- First inversionG♭–B♭–D♭–E♭E♭m7/G♭no shape on this instrument
- Second inversionB♭–D♭–E♭–G♭E♭m7/B♭6-6-4-6
- Third inversionD♭–E♭–G♭–B♭E♭m7/D♭9-9-8-8
How do you play an E♭ minor 7th chord on bass?
E♭ minor 7th is played at the 11th fret as 11 13 11 11: index finger on the E string at fret 11, pinky finger on the A string at fret 13, middle finger on the D string at fret 11 and ring finger on the G string at fret 11.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11 | 1 | E♭ (1) |
| 3 (A) | 13 | 4 | B♭ (5) |
| 2 (D) | 11 | 2 | D♭ (♭7) |
| 1 (G) | 11 | 3 | G♭ (♭3) |
AdvancedThe wide stretch from the 11th fret on the E string to the 13th fret on the A string demands strong pinky reach and precise finger independence.
E♭m7/B♭ inversion
E♭ minor 7th is played at the 4th fret as 6 6 4 6: middle finger on the E string at fret 6, ring finger on the A string at fret 6, index finger on the D string at fret 4 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 6.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6 | 2 | B♭ (5) |
| 3 (A) | 6 | 3 | E♭ (1) |
| 2 (D) | 4 | 1 | G♭ (♭3) |
| 1 (G) | 6 | 4 | D♭ (♭7) |
E♭m7/D♭ inversion
E♭ minor 7th is played at the 8th fret as 9 9 8 8: ring finger on the E string at fret 9, pinky finger on the A string at fret 9, index finger on the D string at fret 8 and middle finger on the G string at fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9 | 3 | D♭ (♭7) |
| 3 (A) | 9 | 4 | G♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (D) | 8 | 1 | B♭ (5) |
| 1 (G) | 8 | 2 | E♭ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
E♭ minor 7th uses the formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7. The minor 7th interval between E♭ and D♭ gives the chord its mellow, unstable quality. Compared to E♭ minor, it adds D♭, softening the resolution.
What goes wrong with E♭ minor 7th?
- Letting the pinky collapse and buzz the A string at the 13th fret.
- Failing to arch the ring finger, causing the G string to sound dead at the 11th fret.
When to use it
E♭ minor 7th suits jazz, R&B, and neo-soul lines where a soft, dark color is needed. It also works with E♭ minor or F♯ major.
Changing to and from E♭ minor 7th
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 9th fret gives C♯ minor 7th; keep the same finger pattern and shift the hand as a unit.
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 10th fret gives D minor 7th; the pinky moves from the 13th to the 12th fret on the A string.
Which voicing to use
The 11th-fret voicing puts the root E♭ in the bass for a grounded sound. The E♭m7/A♯ inversion places B♭ in the bass, creating smoother stepwise motion in progressions. The E♭m7/C♯ inversion uses D♭ in the bass, adding a darker, more suspended feel.
Other E♭ chords
Common questions
How is E♭ minor 7th written?
E♭ minor 7th is written E♭min7 or E♭m7. On a keyboard, use Eb for the root. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between E♭ minor 7th and E♭ minor?
E♭ minor 7th adds a D♭, the minor 7th, to the E♭ minor triad. This extra note creates a softer, more colorful sound than the plain minor triad.
Why does E♭ minor 7th sound jazzy?
The minor 7th interval between E♭ and D♭ adds a gentle dissonance that is a staple of jazz harmony. It blends well with extended chords and chromatic bass lines.
Can E♭ minor 7th be played in a lower register?
Yes, but the 11th-fret voicing is already in a mid register. Moving to the 6th fret inversion puts B♭ in the bass, which can muddy the low end if not EQ'd carefully.