E♭m guitar chord
The E♭ minor chord: every way to play it on the neck, the notes in it, and the scales that sound good over it.
What's in E♭m
- Notes
- E♭ – G♭ – B♭
- Formula
- 1 – b3 – 5
- Name
- E♭ minor
E♭mE♭ · G♭ · B♭
2 ways to play it · Tuning E A D G B E
- D shape · 1st fret
- A shape · 6th fret
What to play over E♭m
Start with the chord's own notes — E♭, G♭, B♭ — and land on them on the strong beats. Then reach for a scale; which one depends on the chord's job in the song.
- D# minor pentatonic scale
The safe start, and the sound of most rock and blues solos.
- D# Dorian mode
A minor with a brighter 6th — when the chord is a ii.
- D# natural minor scale
The natural minor, when the chord is the song’s home chord (i).
- D# Phrygian mode
Dark and Spanish-sounding, with the ♭2 — when the chord is a iii.
Questions
What notes are in a E♭m chord?
E♭m has 3 notes: E♭, G♭, B♭. Counted from the root, its formula is 1 – b3 – 5.
What scale goes with E♭m?
D# minor pentatonic scale is the place to start. The safe start, and the sound of most rock and blues solos.