Also written E♭, E♭maj or E♭M
E♭ major is built from E♭, G, and B♭. The open shape uses three fingers in a compact triangle, which is comfortable for small hands.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
E♭ major follows the 1, 3, 5 formula from the E♭ major scale. The major third between E♭ and G gives it a warm, rounded quality. Lower that third to G♭ and you get E♭ minor.
E♭ major is the tonic in E♭ major, as in E♭–A♭–B♭, the I–IV–V–I progression. It also appears in A♭ major and B♭ major keys. Use it for warm ballads and jazz standards.
The open shape has E♭ in the bass, giving a solid root position. The E♭maj/G inversion at the 8th fret puts G in the bass for a lighter, more open sound.
E♭ major is played in open position as 0 3 3 1: middle finger on the C string at fret 3, ring finger on the E string at fret 3 and index finger on the A string at fret 1. The G string rings open.
Tip — The middle and ring fingers must share the 3rd fret without crowding the open G string.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | G (3) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 2 | E♭ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 3 | G (3) |
| 1 (A) | 1 | 1 | B♭ (5) |
E♭ major is played at the 1st fret as 3 3 3 1: middle finger on the G string at fret 3, ring finger on the C string at fret 3, pinky finger on the E string at fret 3 and index finger on the A string at fret 1.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3 | 2 | B♭ (5) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 3 | E♭ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 4 | G (3) |
| 1 (A) | 1 | 1 | B♭ (5) |
E♭ major is played at the 3rd fret as 3 3 3 6: barre your index finger across fret 3 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 6.
| 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) | 6 | 4 | E♭ (1) |
E♭ major is played at the 6th fret as 8 7 6 6: barre your index finger across fret 6, ring finger on the G string at fret 8 and middle finger on the C string at fret 7.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8 | 3 | E♭ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 7 | 2 | G (3) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 1 (barre) | B♭ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 1 (barre) | E♭ (1) |
E♭ major is played at the 10th fret as 12 10 11 10: pinky finger on the G string at fret 12, index finger on the C string at fret 10, ring finger on the E string at fret 11 and middle finger on the A string at fret 10.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 12 | 4 | G (3) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 1 | B♭ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 11 | 3 | E♭ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 10 | 2 | G (3) |
E♭ major is written E♭, E♭maj, or E♭M. On a keyboard, type Eb. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
E♭ major has G, a major third above E♭. E♭ minor lowers that to G♭, a minor third, which makes the chord darker.
The open G string is the major third, so it stays open. The other three strings are fretted to get the root, third, and fifth.