Ebm6 Guitar Chord

Ebm6 is the E flat minor sixth chord. It has four notes: E flat, G flat, B flat and C. The main shape puts the root on the A string at the 6th fret, with a small index barre and no six string stretch.

Root on the A string at the 6th fret under the ring finger, with the index laying across the D and B strings at the 4th and the pinky adding the fifth on the high E. Five strings, no full barre.

How to play Ebm6, step by step

Index finger: press flat across the D to B strings at fret 4
Middle finger: 5th fret, G string
Ring finger: 6th fret, A string
Pinky finger: 6th fret, high E string
Strum from the A string down, skipping the low E.

The grip is movable. The ring finger note on the A string names the chord: slide it down two frets and the same shape is C#m6, up two and it is Fm6.

More ways to play Ebm6

There are 2 common Ebm6 shapes in total: the standard one at the top of the page, plus these, easiest first. You only ever need one. Tap any card to hear it.

Ebm6 guitar chord diagram, barre at fret 11, played 11 13 13 11 13 11 — Barre at fret 11

If it will not ring cleanly

The middle note chokes: The middle finger sits at the 5th fret of the G string with barred strings either side. Stand it up on its tip so it does not lean on the B string.
The low E string rings: It is not in the chord. Begin the strum on the A string, or rest the ring finger's tip against the low E to mute it.
The index barre buzzes: It covers only the D and B strings at the 4th fret. Press it flat across those two, close behind the fret, and leave the rest of the work to the other fingers.

What makes it an Ebm6

E♭ · G♭ · B♭ · C 1 ♭3 5 6

Ebm6 is an E flat minor triad (E flat, G flat, B flat) with a C added: the major sixth. The flat third makes it minor, the natural sixth makes it restless, and the two together are the signature of every minor sixth chord.

The same four notes counted from C spell Cm7b5, the half diminished chord. Ebm6 is also an Ab9 without its root, which is why it leans toward D flat, and why arrangers in flat keys reach for it so often.

Ebm6 vs Ebm7

Ebm7 adds a D flat to E flat minor and settles it. Ebm6 adds a C, one fret lower, and unsettles it: the same minor chord, now with somewhere to go.

Both chords on this root are movable grips rather than open shapes. The m7 is the one pop charts ask for; the m6 turns up in jazz, bossa nova and older songs, usually on the iv chord or as a colour on the tonic minor.

Ebm6 chord questions

Is Ebm6 the same as D#m6?

Yes, the same chord in two spellings. E flat is how the flat keys this chord lives in write it, so that is the name used here.

What is the difference between Ebm6 and Ebm7?

One note. Ebm7 has a D flat, Ebm6 has a C, one fret lower. The seventh calms the chord; the sixth gives it somewhere to go.

Is Ebm6 the same as Cm7b5?

Same four notes: E flat, G flat, B flat and C. The bass note decides the name: E flat gives Ebm6, C gives Cm7b5.

Do you strum all six strings in Ebm6?

No. Strum five from the A string down; the low E stays out.

Where is Ebm6 used?

As the iv chord in B flat, on the tonic in E flat minor, and across jazz and older popular music, where the minor sixth is a standard substitute for the minor seventh.