E♭ minor chord on piano
E♭m is a minor chord built on E♭. It uses the notes E♭ - G♭ - B♭ and sounds darker, softer and more emotional. It is also written as D♯ minor.
- Notes
- E♭ G♭ B♭
- Formula
- 1 - ♭3 - 5
- Right hand fingering
- 1 - 3 - 5
- Left hand fingering
- 5 - 3 - 1
- Chord symbol
- E♭m
How to play E♭m 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♭, 3 half steps above E♭.
- Add B♭, 7 half steps above E♭.
- Press all 3 keys together with fingers 1 - 3 - 5 of your right hand. Keep your wrist level and let the weight of your arm do the work.
E♭m 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.
Which keys use the E♭m chord?
Knowing where a chord lives helps you guess the next chord in a song. E♭m appears naturally in these keys:
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the E♭ minor chord?
The E♭ minor chord (E♭m) contains 3 notes: E♭, G♭, B♭. Its formula is 1 - ♭3 - 5.
How do you play E♭m on piano?
Put your right-hand thumb on E♭ and play E♭, G♭, B♭ together using fingers 1 - 3 - 5. With the left hand, use fingers 5 - 3 - 1.
Is E♭ minor the same as D♯ minor?
Yes. E♭ minor and D♯ minor use exactly the same piano keys. The name you see depends on the key signature of the piece.