Eb6 Piano Chord

Eb6 is the E flat sixth chord. It has four notes: E flat, G, B flat and C. The E flat and B flat are black keys, under the thumb and middle finger, with the white G and C filling in the shape.

1E♭2G3B♭5CC4C5

E flat at the bottom, then G, B flat and C. Right hand 1-2-3-5, left hand 5-3-2-1, black keys under thumb and middle finger.

How to play Eb6 on piano, step by step

  1. Start on the E♭ above middle C. That is the lowest note of the chord.
  2. Thumb (1): E♭
  3. Index finger (2): G
  4. Middle finger (3): B♭
  5. Little finger (5): C
  6. Press them together with the right hand. The left hand plays the same notes with fingers 5, 3, 2, 1 an octave lower, or just E♭ on its own as a bass note.

Thumb and middle finger take the two black keys, E flat and B flat, and the index and little finger take the white G and C. Sitting the hand slightly into the keys puts every finger where it needs to be.

Inversions of Eb6

The same 4 notes with a different one at the bottom. All of them are Eb6; which you play depends on what the hand is coming from. Tap any card to hear it.

First inversionG B♭ C E♭
Eb6 piano chord diagram, first inversion, G B♭ C E♭
Lighter, with the third in the bass leaning the chord toward A flat or C minor. A connecting voicing rather than a destination.
Second inversionB♭ C E♭ G
Eb6 piano chord diagram, second inversion, B♭ C E♭ G
Open, with a soft rub where B flat and C meet at the base. The blur is part of the charm and disappears the moment a real bass note lands below it.
Third inversionC E♭ G B♭
Eb6 piano chord diagram, third inversion, C E♭ G B♭
The two-named voicing. With C underneath, Eb6 and C minor seventh are one sound, which makes this the pivot between E flat major and its relative minor.

If it sounds wrong

The top note landed on D
One white key too far gives Ebmaj7, a different and dreamier chord. The sixth is C, one whole step above the B flat.
It sounds like C minor
Eb6 shares all four notes with Cm7. When C ends up lowest, the chord flips to C minor in the ear. Keep E flat at the bottom, or anchor with a low E flat in the left hand.
The black keys speak before the white
With the thumb and middle finger on raised keys, the hand can rock. Keep the wrist level and press the four keys as one surface so nothing arrives early.

What makes it an Eb6

E♭ · G · B♭ · C 1 3 5 6

Eb6 is an E flat major triad, E flat, G and B flat, with a C added: the sixth, a whole step above the fifth. The triad is complete, so the chord keeps its E flat warmth and takes on the sixth's older, rounder colour.

Counted from C, the same notes spell Cm7, the relative minor seventh. The bass note decides which name applies, and the third inversion of Eb6, with C at the bottom, is a Cm7 shape in all but the chart symbol.

Eb6 vs Ebmaj7

One top note apart. Eb6 adds C, a whole step over the B flat; Ebmaj7 adds D, a half step under the E flat above. The C settles the chord, the D leaves it floating.

Hold E flat, G and B flat, and rock the little finger between C and D. C is a Basie ending; D is a film cue. Charts in E flat use both constantly, and they are not interchangeable.

Questions about Eb6

Is Eb6 the same as D#6?

Yes, two spellings of one chord. E flat is how the chord appears in real music, so that is the spelling this page uses.

Is Eb6 the same as Cm7?

Same four notes: E flat, G, B flat and C. E flat in the bass makes it Eb6; C in the bass makes it Cm7.

What fingers do you use for Eb6?

Right hand: thumb on E flat, index on G, middle on B flat, little finger on C, which is 1, 2, 3, 5. Left hand: 5, 3, 2, 1.

What is the difference between Eb6 and Eb7?

Eb6 adds C, a colour note with no pull. Eb7 adds D flat, a flat seventh that pushes toward A flat. One rests, one travels.

When would I use Eb6?

As the settled tonic in jazz, soul and gospel tunes in E flat, and under melodies that sit on C. It is the ending chord of choice in this key.

Chords to learn next

Other Eb chords