E♭ dominant 9th chord on piano
E♭9 is a dominant 9th chord built on E♭. It uses the notes E♭ - G - B♭ - D♭ - F and sounds rich and funky, a staple of funk, gospel and jazz. It is also written as D♯ dominant 9th.
- Notes
- E♭ G B♭ D♭ F
- Formula
- 1 - 3 - 5 - ♭7 - 9
- Right hand fingering
- 1 - 2 - 3 - 5 on the upper four notes
- Left hand fingering
- 5 on the root
- Chord symbol
- E♭9
How to play E♭9 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 D♭, 10 half steps above E♭.
- Add F, 14 half steps above E♭.
- Press all 5 keys together with fingers 1 - 2 - 3 - 5 on the upper four notes of your right hand. Keep your wrist level and let the weight of your arm do the work.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the E♭ dominant 9th chord?
The E♭ dominant 9th chord (E♭9) contains 5 notes: E♭, G, B♭, D♭, F. Its formula is 1 - 3 - 5 - ♭7 - 9.
How do you play E♭9 on piano?
Play the root E♭ alone with your left hand, then play G, B♭, D♭, F with your right hand. That spreads the five notes comfortably across both hands.
Is E♭ dominant 9th the same as D♯ dominant 9th?
Yes. E♭ dominant 9th and D♯ dominant 9th use exactly the same piano keys. The name you see depends on the key signature of the piece.