Explore chords · Ukulele
E♭ 7th chord on ukulele (E♭7)
Also called or written E♭7, E♭, E♭ Dominant 7th or E♭ Major Minor 7th
E♭ 7th contains E♭, G, B♭, and D♭. The 8th fret shape demands a wide stretch across four frets, making it a challenging grip.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7
How do you play an E♭ 7th chord on ukulele?
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.
Full note and interval breakdown
| 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) |
AdvancedThe 8th fret shape requires a wide stretch from the index on the 4th string to the pinky on the 1st string, spanning four frets.
3rd fret
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.
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) | 4 | 4 | D♭ (♭7) |
E♭7/G inversion
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.
Full note and interval breakdown
| 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) |
Why it sounds like that
E♭ 7th is built from the formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7 on the root E♭. The ♭7, D♭, gives the chord its dominant pull. Compare it with E♭ major, which lacks the ♭7.
What goes wrong with E♭ 7th?
- Letting the pinky collapse and deaden the 1st string.
- Allowing the ring finger to touch the 2nd string, muffling the B♭.
- Pressing the index too flat so the 4th string buzzes.
When to use it
E♭ 7th is the V chord in A♭ major, resolving to A♭ major in the I–IV–V–I progression A♭–D♭–E♭–A♭. It also appears in the I–V–vi–IV progression A♭–E♭–Fm–D♭. Use E♭ 7th for blues, jazz, and rock progressions.
Changing to and from E♭ 7th
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 7th fret gives D 7th.
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 9th fret gives E 7th.
Which voicing to use
The 8th fret shape has E♭ in the bass and is the root position. The E♭7/D♭ inversion at the 6th fret puts D♭ in the bass and is easier to reach. The E♭7/B♭ inversion at the 3rd fret has B♭ in the bass and uses a barre.
Other E♭ chords
Common questions
How is E♭ 7th written?
E♭ 7th is written as E♭7 or Eb7. The symbols E♭ and E♭7 both refer to this chord. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between E♭ 7th and E♭ major?
E♭ major contains E♭, G, and B♭. E♭ 7th adds the ♭7, D♭, which creates tension that resolves to A♭ major.
Can I play E♭ 7th with open strings?
No, E♭ 7th has no open-string voicing. The easiest shape is the E♭7/D♭ inversion at the 6th fret.