Ebm6 Piano Chord
Ebm6 is the E flat minor sixth chord. It has four notes: E flat, G flat, B flat and C. The triad is all black keys, and the single white key on top, the C, is the sixth that gives the chord its name.
E♭ at the bottom, then G♭, B♭ and C. Right hand 1-2-3-5, left hand 5-3-2-1. C is the only white key.
How to play Ebm6 on piano, step by step
- Start on the E♭ above middle C. That is the lowest note of the chord.
- Thumb (1): E♭
- Index finger (2): G♭
- Middle finger (3): B♭
- Little finger (5): C
- 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.
The first three fingers sit on black keys, so keep the hand deep in the keyboard and let the little finger drop forward onto C. The white key on top is the note to listen for.
Inversions of Ebm6
The same 4 notes with a different one at the bottom. All of them are Ebm6; which you play depends on what the hand is coming from. Tap any card to hear it.
If it sounds wrong
- The chord sounds like plain E flat minor
- The C on top is missing or weak. It is the only white key in the chord and the little finger has to come forward and down to reach it; let it land on its tip.
- It sounds settled instead of bittersweet
- The top note is C, not D flat. D flat would make it Ebm7. The sixth is the white key just below D flat.
- The hand feels crowded on the black keys
- E flat, G flat and B flat all sit high and deep. Keep the wrist up so the fingers can stand on the narrow keys without folding.
What makes it an Ebm6
E♭ · G♭ · B♭ · C 1 ♭3 5 6
Ebm6 is an E flat minor triad, E flat, G flat and B flat, with a C added: the major sixth, nine half steps above the root. The sixth stays major even though the chord is minor, and here the contrast is visible as well as audible: three black keys and one bright white one on top.
It is the iv chord in B flat and a standby of jazz and older pop, where it usually walks to B flat. The same four notes read from C spell Cm7b5, the half diminished chord, so the bass note decides which name applies.
Ebm6 vs Ebm7
Both add a fourth note to E flat minor. Ebm7 adds D flat, staying on the black keys, and sounds smooth; Ebm6 adds C, dropping to a white key, and sounds restless.
Hold E flat, G flat and B flat and rock the top finger between D flat and C. Black key to white key, rest to motion: one key tells you everything about the minor sixth.
Questions about Ebm6
Is Ebm6 the same as D#m6?
Yes, one chord with two spellings. E flat is how the flat keys this chord appears in write it, so it is the spelling used here.
What is the difference between Ebm6 and Ebm7?
The top note. Ebm7 has D flat, a black key, and settles; Ebm6 has C, the white key below it, and leans forward.
What fingers do you use for Ebm6?
Right hand: thumb on E flat, index on G flat, middle on B flat, little finger on C, which is 1, 2, 3 and 5. Left hand plays 5, 3, 2, 1.
Why does a minor chord have a major sixth?
The sixth comes from the major scale. Ebm6 flattens the third to G flat but keeps the sixth at C natural, and that mismatch is the sound of the chord.
Where is Ebm6 used?
As the iv chord in B flat, and through jazz and older pop, where it usually stands where a plain E flat minor would sit too still.
Chords to learn next
