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E♭ minor major 7th chord on bass (E♭mMaj7)
Also called or written E♭mMaj7, E♭minmaj7, E♭mmaj7, E♭mM7, E♭ Minor Sharp 7 or E♭ Minor ♯7
E♭ minor major 7th contains E♭, G♭, B♭, and D. Its 11th-fret position requires a wide stretch across all four strings.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, 7
- Root positionE♭–G♭–B♭–DE♭mMaj711-13-12-11
- First inversionG♭–B♭–D–E♭E♭mMaj7/G♭no shape on this instrument
- Second inversionB♭–D–E♭–G♭E♭mMaj7/B♭no shape on this instrument
- Third inversionD–E♭–G♭–B♭E♭mMaj7/D10-9-8-8
How do you play an E♭ minor major 7th chord on bass?
E♭ minor major 7th is played at the 11th fret as 11 13 12 11: index finger on the E string at fret 11, pinky finger on the A string at fret 13, ring finger on the D string at fret 12 and middle 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) | 12 | 3 | D (7) |
| 1 (G) | 11 | 2 | G♭ (♭3) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach the 13th fret on the A string while the index stays at the 11th fret on the E string.
E♭minmaj7/D inversion
E♭ minor major 7th is played at the 8th fret as 10 9 8 8: pinky finger on the E string at fret 10, ring 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) | 10 | 4 | D (7) |
| 3 (A) | 9 | 3 | G♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (D) | 8 | 1 | B♭ (5) |
| 1 (G) | 8 | 2 | E♭ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
E♭ minor major 7th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, 7. The minor 3rd between E♭ and G♭ gives the chord its minor quality, while the major 7th between E♭ and D adds a leading tone. Contrast this with E♭ minor, which omits the major 7th.
What goes wrong with E♭ minor major 7th?
- Letting the pinky buzz on the A string at the 13th fret.
- Flattening the ring finger and deadening the D string at the 12th fret.
When to use it
Use E♭ minor major 7th in jazz or fusion lines where the major 7th adds tension. Pair it with E♭ minor or E♭ 5th for contrast.
Changing to and from E♭ minor major 7th
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 9th fret gives C♯ minor major 7th.
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 10th fret gives D minor major 7th.
Which voicing to use
The 11th fret position keeps E♭ in the bass for a grounded sound. The E♭minmaj7/D inversion places D in the bass, creating a smoother voice leading into chords like E♭ minor.
Other E♭ chords
Common questions
How is E♭ minor major 7th written?
E♭ minor major 7th is written as E♭mmaj7, mmaj7, mM7, or E♭minmaj7. The root can be typed as Eb. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between E♭ minor major 7th and E♭ minor 7th?
Its verified note order explains the sound without relying on outside harmony. The major 7th creates a leading tone that pulls strongly to the root.
Why does E♭ minor major 7th sound dissonant?
The minor 3rd (G♭) and major 7th (D) form an augmented 5th interval, which is unstable. This tension is characteristic of the minor major 7th chord.
Can I play E♭ minor major 7th in a lower register?
Yes, the E♭minmaj7/D inversion at the 8th fret places the major 7th in the bass. This voicing is useful for connecting to chords with D in the bass.