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E♭ minor major 7th chord on ukulele (E♭mMaj7)
Also called or written E♭mMaj7, E♭minmaj7, E♭mmaj7, E♭mM7, E♭ Minor Sharp 7 or E♭ Minor ♯7
E♭ minor major 7th contains E♭, G♭, B♭, and D. The 8th fret voicing requires a wide stretch across three frets, testing finger independence.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, 7
How do you play an E♭ minor major 7th chord on ukulele?
E♭ minor major 7th is played at the 8th fret as 8 10 10 9: index finger on the G string at fret 8, ring finger on the C string at fret 10, pinky finger on the E string at fret 10 and middle finger on the A string at fret 9.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8 | 1 | E♭ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 3 | B♭ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 10 | 4 | D (7) |
| 1 (A) | 9 | 2 | G♭ (♭3) |
AdvancedThe stretch from the 8th fret on the G string to the 10th fret on the C and E strings demands significant finger span.
E♭minmaj7/G♭ inversion
E♭ minor major 7th is played at the 6th fret as 7 6 6 6: barre your index finger across fret 6 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 7.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 7 | 4 | D (7) |
| 3 (C) | 6 | 1 (barre) | G♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 1 (barre) | B♭ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 1 (barre) | E♭ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
E♭ minor major 7th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, 7. The major 7th interval between E♭ and D gives the chord its distinctive tension. Compare it to E♭ minor, which lacks the D and sounds more consonant.
What goes wrong with E♭ minor major 7th?
- Letting the G string buzz because the index finger is too far from the fret.
- Muting the A string with the middle finger while reaching for the 10th fret.
When to use it
E♭ minor major 7th works in E♭ minor progressions, often as a passing chord between E♭ minor and E♭ minor 7th. It suits gypsy jazz and dramatic ballads. Try it before E♭ minor or E♭ 5th.
Changing to and from E♭ minor major 7th
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 6th fret gives C♯ minor major 7th.
- From E♭ minor major 7th, lift the pinky and ring finger to move to E♭ minor.
Which voicing to use
The 8th fret voicing keeps E♭ in the bass for a root-position sound. The E♭minmaj7/D inversion places D in the bass, creating a leading-tone pull toward E♭ minor.
Other E♭ chords
Common questions
How is E♭ minor major 7th written?
E♭ minor major 7th is written E♭mmaj7, E♭minmaj7, or E♭mM7. The ASCII root spelling is Eb. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What mistake do players make with this shape?
Players often let the pinky collapse and mute the E string. Keep the pinky arched and press with the fingertip.
How does E♭ minor major 7th differ from E♭ minor 7th?
The displayed shape preserves only the supplied notes and interval formula. The major 7th creates a sharper, more dissonant sound.