Also written E♭7, E♭ or E♭ Dominant 7th
E♭ 7th is built from E♭, G, B♭, and D♭. The 3rd fret barre shape requires a full barre and a pinky stretch, making it a demanding grip.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
E♭ 7th combines a major 3rd, perfect 5th, and minor 7th over E♭. The minor 7th D♭ gives it dominant tension, resolving to A♭ major. Compare it to E♭ major, which lacks that D♭.
E♭ 7th is the V chord in A♭ major, resolving to A♭ major in progressions like A♭–D♭–E♭–A♭ (I–IV–V–I). It fits blues, jazz, and gospel, especially as a turnaround to A♭ major.
The 3rd fret voicing puts E♭ in the bass for a root-position sound. The open voicing 0-3-6-4 also has E♭ in the bass but is easier to finger. For a higher inversion, use E♭7/G at 6-7-6-6 with G in the bass.
E♭ 7th is played at the 3rd fret as 3 3 3 4: barre your index finger across fret 3 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 4.
Tip — The index barre must fret three strings cleanly while the pinky reaches the 4th fret on the 1st string.
| 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) | 4 | 4 | D♭ (♭7) |
E♭ 7th is played in open position as 0 3 6 4: index finger on the C string at fret 3, ring finger on the E string at fret 6 and middle finger on the A string at fret 4. The G string rings open.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | G (3) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 1 | E♭ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 3 | B♭ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 4 | 2 | D♭ (♭7) |
E♭ 7th is played at the 6th fret as 6 7 6 6: index finger on the G string at fret 6, 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.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6 | 1 | D♭ (♭7) |
| 3 (C) | 7 | 4 | G (3) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 2 | B♭ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 3 | E♭ (1) |
E♭ 7th is played at the 8th fret as 8 10 9 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 9 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 10.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8 | 1 | E♭ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 3 | B♭ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 9 | 2 | D♭ (♭7) |
| 1 (A) | 10 | 4 | G (3) |
E♭ 7th is written as E♭7 or Eb7. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
E♭ 7th contains a tritone between G and D♭, which creates tension. This tension resolves when the chord moves to A♭ major.
Use the open voicing 0-3-6-4, which avoids the barre. It places E♭ in the bass and is easier for beginners.