Eb chord (E flat major) on bass
Eb (E flat major) has three notes: E flat, G and B flat. Its formula is 1, 3, 5. In major keys, Eb is the I chord in Eb major, the IV in Bb major and the V in Ab major.
How to play Eb on bass
Low notes close together sound muddy, so bass players spread a chord out and leave notes out. Forms with a 3rd or 7th sound clear from about the E string's 8th fret up, so they start there; root and 5th stays low. These forms put the root on the E string; the same shapes work from the A string.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 3 on D.
Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on G.
Hear it and see every shape in ScaleSpace →
| Symbol | Eb |
|---|---|
| Also written | Ebmaj, EbM |
| Notes | Eb G Bb |
| Formula | 1 3 5 |
| Intervals | root, major third, perfect fifth |
| Type | Major chord |
Eb across the neck
Bass · 4-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 3 G (3), fret 6 Bb (5), fret 11 Eb (1), fret 15 G (3), fret 18 Bb (5), fret 23 Eb (1).
- A string: fret 1 Bb (5), fret 6 Eb (1), fret 10 G (3), fret 13 Bb (5), fret 18 Eb (1), fret 22 G (3).
- D string: fret 1 Eb (1), fret 5 G (3), fret 8 Bb (5), fret 13 Eb (1), fret 17 G (3), fret 20 Bb (5).
- G string: fret 0 G (3), fret 3 Bb (5), fret 8 Eb (1), fret 12 G (3), fret 15 Bb (5), fret 20 Eb (1), fret 24 G (3).
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Questions
What notes are in the Eb chord?
Eb (E flat major) has three notes: E flat, G and B flat. Its formula is 1, 3, 5. Eb is the root, G is the major third and Bb is the perfect fifth.
How do you play Eb on bass?
Bass players spread it out rather than strum it. The simplest form is the root and 5th: 1 5, root on the E string, fret 11. Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A.
What key is Eb in?
In major keys, Eb is the I chord in Eb major, the IV in Bb major and the V in Ab major. It is diatonic to those keys, so it fits songs in any of them.
What is the difference between Eb and Ebm?
Eb has a major 3rd, G. Ebm lowers it a half step to Gb, which is what makes it sound minor. The root and 5th stay the same.