Also written E♭m or E♭min
E♭ minor is built from E♭, G♭, and B♭. This intermediate shape uses four fretted notes with no barre.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
E♭ minor follows the formula 1, ♭3, 5. The minor 3rd between E♭ and G♭ gives the chord its dark quality. Compare it to E♭ major, which raises the ♭3 to a major 3rd.
E♭ minor is the vi chord in F♯ major, appearing in the I–V–vi–IV progression as F♯–C♯–E♭ minor–B. It fits dark jazz and minor-key ballads. Try it with B major for a smooth move.
The 1st fret position has E♭ in the bass, giving a grounded sound. The E♭min/G♭ inversions put G♭ in the bass for a softer, less rooted voicing.
E♭ minor is played at the 1st fret as 3 3 2 1: ring finger on the G string at fret 3, pinky finger on the C string at fret 3, middle finger on the E string at fret 2 and index finger on the A string at fret 1.
Tip — The pinky must fret the third fret on string 3 while the ring finger holds string 4.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3 | 3 | B♭ (5) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 4 | E♭ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 2 | 2 | G♭ (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | 1 | 1 | B♭ (5) |
E♭ minor is played at the 3rd fret as 3 6 6 6: index finger on the G string at fret 3, middle finger on the C string at fret 6, ring finger on the E string at fret 6 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 6.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3 | 1 | B♭ (5) |
| 3 (C) | 6 | 2 | G♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 3 | B♭ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 4 | E♭ (1) |
E♭ minor is played at the 6th fret as 8 6 6 6: barre your index finger across fret 6 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 8.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8 | 4 | E♭ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 6 | 1 (barre) | G♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 1 (barre) | B♭ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 1 (barre) | E♭ (1) |
E♭ minor is played at the 9th fret as 11 10 11 9: ring finger on the G string at fret 11, middle finger on the C string at fret 10, pinky finger on the E string at fret 11 and index finger on the A string at fret 9.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 11 | 3 | G♭ (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 2 | B♭ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 11 | 4 | E♭ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 9 | 1 | G♭ (♭3) |
E♭ minor is played at the 1st fret as × 3 2 1: ring finger on the C string at fret 3, middle finger on the E string at fret 2 and index finger on the A string at fret 1. The G string stays muted.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 3 | E♭ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 2 | 2 | G♭ (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | 1 | 1 | B♭ (5) |
E♭ minor is written E♭m, E♭min, E♭−, or E♭mi. On a keyboard, type Eb instead of E♭. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
E♭ minor has a G♭, while E♭ major has a G natural. That one semitone changes the chord from dark to bright.
The G string is muted to keep the bass note on the C string, which is E♭, the root of the chord.