Chords in the Key of E-Flat

Click on the chord symbol for a diagram and explanation of each chord type:

E♭ | E♭m | E♭sus2 | E♭sus4 | E♭maj7 | E♭m7 | E♭7 | E♭dim7 | E♭m7♭5

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E♭ MAJOR TRIAD

Chord Symbol: E♭ or E♭maj

The E♭ major triad consists of a root (E♭), third (G), and fifth (B♭). The distance between the root and the third is a major third interval (or four half-steps), and the distance between the third and fifth is a minor third interval (or three half-steps). Major triads have a “happy” sound.

Root Position

1st Inversion

2nd Inversion

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E♭ MINOR TRIAD

Chord Symbol: E♭m

The E♭ minor triad consists of a root (E♭), third (G♭), and fifth (B♭). The distance between the root and the third is a minor third interval (or three half-steps), and the distance between the third and the fifth is a major third interval (or four half-steps). Minor triads have a “sad” sound.

Root Position

1st Inversion

2nd Inversion

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E♭ SUSPENDED 2

Chord Symbol: E♭sus2

In the E♭sus2 chord, the third of the E♭ major or minor chord (G or G♭) is replaced (“suspended”) with the second note (F) of the E♭ major scale.

Root Position

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E♭ SUSPENDED 4

Chord Symbol: E♭sus4

In the E♭sus4 chord, the third of the E♭ major or minor chord (G or G♭) is replaced (“suspended”) with the fourth note (A♭) of the E♭ major scale.

Root Position

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E♭ MAJOR 7

Chord Symbol: E♭maj7

A major 7 chord is a major triad with an added seventh. The distance between the root and the seventh is a major 7th interval.

Root Position

1st Inversion

2nd Inversion

3rd Inversion

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E♭ MINOR 7

Chord Symbol: E♭m7

A minor 7 chord is a minor triad with an added seventh. The distance between the root and the seventh is a minor 7th interval.

Root Position

1st Inversion

2nd Inversion

3rd Inversion

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E♭ DOMINANT 7TH

Chord Symbol: E♭7

A dominant 7th chord is a major triad with an added seventh, where the distance between the root and the seventh is a minor 7th interval.

You can also think of dominant 7th chords as being built on the fifth note of a major scale and following that scale’s key signature. For example, E♭7 is built on E♭, the fifth note of A-flat major, and follows A-flat major’s key signature (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭).

Root Position

1st Inversion

2nd Inversion

3rd Inversion

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E♭ DIMINISHED 7TH

Chord Symbol: E♭dim7

A diminished 7th chord is a four-note-chord where each note is a minor third apart. You can think of diminished 7th chords as a “stack of minor thirds.”

Root Position

1st Inversion

2nd Inversion

3rd Inversion

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E♭ HALF DIMINISHED 7TH

Chord Symbol: E♭m7♭5

The half-diminished chord is also called the “minor seven flat five” chord. It is a minor 7th chord where the fifth is lowered by a half-step.

Root Position

1st Inversion

2nd Inversion

3rd Inversion

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