E♭ major
Three flats, B♭ E♭ A♭. Seven notes: E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C D. Try the key’s seven chords in different places on the neck. Press a shape to hear it and see its notes.
D♯ and E♭ are the same pitch. This scale is written as E♭ major because that spelling needs fewer accidentals than D♯ major.
Across one chord in different positions. Down the chords in one position. | ||||
| IMainE♭E♭ · G · B♭ | ||||
| iiFmF · A♭ · C | ||||
| iiiGmG · B♭ · D | ||||
| IVMainA♭A♭ · C · E♭ | ||||
| VMainB♭B♭ · D · F | ||||
| viMainCmC · E♭ · G | ||||
| vii°D°D · F · A♭ |
Sounds good
Three patterns to try
Walk up to A♭. Strum E♭, pick F and G on the way up, land on A♭. Listen to how the bass connects the chords.
Triads on the top three strings. Three notes, three places, all E♭. Try them when a full six-string chord feels too busy.
- LowFrets 3–4
- MiddleFrets 6–8
- HighFrets 11–12
Same chords, higher. The four main chords in frets 1 to 4, then again in frets 5 to 9. Listen to how the higher voicings change the sound.
Exercises in E♭ major
Four drills, with a click
Play along with the metronome. The neck above highlights each step.
- Four chords in one positionE♭ – A♭ – B♭ – Cm without leaving frets 3 to 6.70 bpmLevel 1
- Climb with one chordE♭ in all four places, low to high. Hear it brighten.60 bpmLevel 1
- Walk up to A♭Strum E♭, then walk the bass F – G into A♭.90 bpmLevel 2
- Scale, then chordsPlay the scale in frets 5 to 9, then the four chords there.70 bpmLevel 2
Why three flats
B♭ major with A lowered
- E♭
- F
- G
- A♭
- B♭
- C
- D
- E♭
- F
- G
- A
- B♭
- C
- D
E♭ major is B♭ major with A lowered to A♭.