Ebm chord (E flat minor) on bass
Ebm (E flat minor) has three notes: E flat, G flat and B flat. Its formula is 1, b3, 5. In major keys, Ebm is the ii chord in Db major, the iii in B major and the vi in F# major.
How to play Ebm 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, 1 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 1 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 1 on G.
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| Symbol | Ebm |
|---|---|
| Also written | Ebmin, Eb- |
| Notes | Eb Gb Bb |
| Formula | 1 b3 5 |
| Intervals | root, minor third, perfect fifth |
| Type | Minor chord |
Ebm across the neck
Bass · 4-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 2 Gb (flat 3), fret 6 Bb (5), fret 11 Eb (1), fret 14 Gb (flat 3), fret 18 Bb (5), fret 23 Eb (1).
- A string: fret 1 Bb (5), fret 6 Eb (1), fret 9 Gb (flat 3), fret 13 Bb (5), fret 18 Eb (1), fret 21 Gb (flat 3).
- D string: fret 1 Eb (1), fret 4 Gb (flat 3), fret 8 Bb (5), fret 13 Eb (1), fret 16 Gb (flat 3), fret 20 Bb (5).
- G string: fret 3 Bb (5), fret 8 Eb (1), fret 11 Gb (flat 3), fret 15 Bb (5), fret 20 Eb (1), fret 23 Gb (flat 3).
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Questions
What notes are in the Ebm chord?
Ebm (E flat minor) has three notes: E flat, G flat and B flat. Its formula is 1, b3, 5. Eb is the root, Gb is the minor third and Bb is the perfect fifth.
How do you play Ebm 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 Ebm in?
In major keys, Ebm is the ii chord in Db major, the iii in B major and the vi in F# major. It is diatonic to those keys, so it fits songs in any of them.
What is the difference between Ebm and Eb?
Ebm has a minor 3rd, Gb. Eb major raises it a half step to G. The root and 5th stay the same.