Also written E♭5, E♭ or E♭ power chord
E♭ 5th contains E♭ and B♭. This four-fret stretch is manageable but requires careful finger placement.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
E♭ 5th is built from the formula 1, 5, with a perfect 5th between E♭ and B♭. The perfect 5th gives the chord its open, stable sound. Compare it with E♭ major, which adds a major 3rd for a fuller harmony.
E♭ 5th works as the tonic in E♭ major progressions like E♭–A♭–B♭, the I–IV–V. It suits rock and metal rhythm playing where a tight, aggressive sound is needed.
The 3rd fret position has the root E♭ in the bass, giving a solid foundation. The E♭5/B♭ inversion starting on fret 6 puts the 5th in the bass for a lighter, less grounded sound.
E♭ 5th is played at the 3rd fret as 3 3 6 6: index finger on the G string at fret 3, middle finger on the C string at fret 3, ring finger on the E string at fret 6 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 6.
Tip — The stretch from the 3rd fret to the 6th fret across all four fingers is the hardest physical part.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3 | 1 | B♭ (5) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 2 | E♭ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 3 | B♭ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 4 | E♭ (1) |
E♭ 5th is played at the 6th fret as × × 6 6: index finger on the E string at fret 6 and middle finger on the A string at fret 6. The G and C strings stay muted.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | muted | — | — |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 1 | B♭ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 2 | E♭ (1) |
E♭ 5th is played at the 8th fret as 8 10 × ×: index finger on the G string at fret 8 and middle finger on the C string at fret 10. The E and A strings stay muted.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8 | 1 | E♭ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 2 | B♭ (5) |
| 2 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (A) | muted | — | — |
E♭ 5th is played at the 10th fret as × 10 11 ×: index finger on the C string at fret 10 and middle finger on the E string at fret 11. The G and A strings stay muted.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 1 | B♭ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 11 | 2 | E♭ (1) |
| 1 (A) | muted | — | — |
E♭ 5th is played at the 3rd fret as 3 3 × ×: index finger on the G string at fret 3 and middle finger on the C string at fret 3. The E and A strings stay muted.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3 | 1 | B♭ (5) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 2 | E♭ (1) |
| 2 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (A) | muted | — | — |
E♭ 5th is written as E♭5 or E♭. The ASCII root is Eb, so it may appear as Eb5. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
E♭ 5th omits the major 3rd, leaving only E♭ and B♭. E♭ major includes G, which gives it a brighter, more complete sound.
E♭ 5th is intermediate because of the four-fret stretch. Beginners may find the two-string version at the 6th fret easier.