Explore chords · Ukulele
E♭ 6th chord on ukulele (E♭6)
Also called or written E♭6 or E♭
E♭ 6th contains E♭, G, B♭ and C. The 8th fret shape is a wide stretch, but a 3rd fret barre inversion offers relief.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 6
How do you play an E♭ 6th chord on ukulele?
E♭ 6th is played at the 8th fret as 8 10 8 10: index finger on the G string at fret 8, ring finger on the C string at fret 10, middle finger on the E string at fret 8 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 10.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8 | 1 | E♭ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 3 | B♭ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 8 | 2 | C (6) |
| 1 (A) | 10 | 4 | G (3) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach fret 10 on the A string while the index and middle hold fret 8, stretching the hand.
3rd fret
E♭ 6th is played at the 3rd fret as 3 3 3 3: barre your index finger across fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3 | 1 (barre) | B♭ (5) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 1 (barre) | E♭ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 1 (barre) | G (3) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 1 (barre) | C (6) |
E♭6/G inversion
E♭ 6th is played at the 5th fret as 5 7 6 6: index finger on the G string at fret 5, pinky finger on the C string at fret 7, middle finger on the E string at fret 6 and ring finger on the A string at fret 6.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5 | 1 | C (6) |
| 3 (C) | 7 | 4 | G (3) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 2 | B♭ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 3 | E♭ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
E♭ 6th is built from the major triad E♭–G–B♭ plus the sixth, C. The sixth adds a warm, consonant colour to the major sound. Compare it with E♭ major, which stops at the fifth and sounds more plain.
What goes wrong with E♭ 6th?
- Letting the pinky flatten onto the C string, which deadens the G note.
- Pressing too hard with the index, which can pull the G string sharp.
- Allowing the ring finger to touch the E string, muting the B♭.
When to use it
E♭ 6th works as the tonic in E♭ major, especially in the I–IV–V–I progression E♭–A♭–B♭–E♭. It suits jazz, swing and folk where a major triad needs extra colour. Try it in place of E♭ major at cadences.
Changing to and from E♭ 6th
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 7th fret gives D 6th.
- From E♭ major, add the pinky on the A string at fret 10 and the ring on the C string at fret 10.
Which voicing to use
The 8th fret shape has E♭ in the bass, giving a solid root position. The E♭6/B♭ inversion at the 3rd fret places B♭ in the bass, which makes the chord feel lighter and more open. The E♭6/C inversion at the 5th fret has C in the bass, creating a brighter, more open sound.
Other E♭ chords
Common questions
How is E♭ 6th written?
E♭ 6th is written as E♭6 or E♭. The root is E♭, and the ASCII spelling is Eb. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between E♭ 6th and E♭ major 7th?
E♭ 6th adds the sixth, C, while E♭ major 7th adds the seventh, D. The sixth is more consonant and less tense than the major seventh.
Can E♭ 6th be used in a minor key?
Yes, E♭ 6th can appear in C natural minor as the III chord, but it is less common. It adds a major colour to the minor progression.
Why does the 3rd fret inversion sound different?
The 3rd fret inversion has B♭ in the bass, which is the fifth of the chord. This inversion sounds less rooted and more airy than the root position.