E♭ major 6th chord on piano
E♭6 is a major 6th chord built on E♭. It uses the notes E♭ - G - B♭ - C and sounds sweet and nostalgic, heard often in swing and old pop. It is also written as D♯ major 6th.
- Notes
- E♭ G B♭ C
- Formula
- 1 - 3 - 5 - 6
- Right hand fingering
- 1 - 2 - 3 - 5
- Left hand fingering
- 5 - 3 - 2 - 1
- Chord symbol
- E♭6
How to play E♭6 step by step
- Find E♭. E♭ is the second black key in each group of two. The same key is also called D♯.
- Add G, 4 half steps above E♭.
- Add B♭, 7 half steps above E♭.
- Add C, 9 half steps above E♭.
- Press all 4 keys together with fingers 1 - 2 - 3 - 5 of your right hand. Keep your wrist level and let the weight of your arm do the work.
E♭6 inversions
An inversion uses the same notes in a different order. Inversions let your hand move less between chords, which is how pianists make chord changes sound smooth.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the E♭ major 6th chord?
The E♭ major 6th chord (E♭6) contains 4 notes: E♭, G, B♭, C. Its formula is 1 - 3 - 5 - 6.
How do you play E♭6 on piano?
Put your right-hand thumb on E♭ and play E♭, G, B♭, C together using fingers 1 - 2 - 3 - 5. With the left hand, use fingers 5 - 3 - 2 - 1.
Is E♭ major 6th the same as D♯ major 6th?
Yes. E♭ major 6th and D♯ major 6th use exactly the same piano keys. The name you see depends on the key signature of the piece.