Ebm Piano Chord

E flat minor is the Ebm piano chord. It has three notes: E flat, G flat and B flat. All three are black keys, which makes it one of the easiest chords on the piano to play and one of the most intimidating to read.

1E♭3G♭5B♭C4C5

E♭ at the bottom, then G♭ and B♭. Right hand 1-3-5, left hand 5-3-1. The black keys are E♭ and G♭ and B♭.

How to play Ebm 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. Middle finger (3): G♭
  4. Little finger (5): B♭
  5. Press them together with the right hand. The left hand plays the same notes with fingers 5, 3, 1 an octave lower, or just E♭ on its own as a bass note.

An all black chord is a gift to the hand. The keys are raised, narrower and evenly spaced, so the fingers land in a natural curve with nothing in the way.

Inversions of Ebm

The same 3 notes with a different one at the bottom. All of them are Ebm; which you play depends on what the hand is coming from. Tap any card to hear it.

First inversionG♭ B♭ E♭
Ebm piano chord diagram, first inversion, G♭ B♭ E♭
Lighter than root position and less final. A flat third in the bass tips the chord forward, which is why it usually sits between two other chords rather than at the end of a line.
Second inversionB♭ E♭ G♭
Ebm piano chord diagram, second inversion, B♭ E♭ G♭
Open and slightly unresolved. A fifth in the bass makes the chord sound like a step on the way somewhere, which is mostly how it is used.

If it sounds wrong

A finger drops onto a white key
Play well into the keyboard. All three notes are black, so there is no reason for the hand to be near the front edge at all.
You are in the wrong group
E flat and G flat are the second key of the group of two and the first of the group of three. Find the groups first and the chord places itself.
The notes sound uneven
Black keys are narrow and need a central strike. Aim each fingertip at the middle of its key.

What makes it an Ebm

E♭ · G♭ · B♭ 1 ♭3 5

E flat minor is the first, flat third and fifth of the E flat scale: E flat, G flat and B flat. Its key signature has six flats, which is why every note is a black key.

It is the relative minor of G flat major, the vi chord of G flat and the ii of D flat. It is a rare key, so this chord usually appears as a borrowed colour rather than as a home chord.

Ebm vs Eb

The middle note. E flat minor uses G flat, a black key; E flat major uses G, the white key above it.

That makes E flat major the black, white, black shape and E flat minor the all black one. Under the hand, the minor is the easier of the two.

Questions about Ebm

Which notes are in an Ebm chord on piano?

E flat, G flat and B flat. All three are black keys.

Is Ebm hard to play?

No, and that surprises people. Three black keys, raised and evenly spaced, is one of the most comfortable shapes on the instrument.

Is Ebm the same as D#m?

The same three keys and the same sound. D sharp minor appears in sharp keys; E flat minor is the more common spelling.

What fingers do you use for Ebm?

Right hand: thumb on E flat, middle finger on G flat, little finger on B flat. Left hand: little finger on E flat, middle on G flat, thumb on B flat.

Where is the Ebm chord used?

As the vi chord in G flat and the ii in D flat, and as a borrowed minor colour in E flat major.

Chords to learn next

Other Eb chords