Piano chord
E♭7E flat dominant seventh
- E♭1
- G3
- B♭5
- D♭♭7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 10semitones
- Fingers
- 1-3-4-5
How to play E♭7 on piano
- Find E♭: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on E♭, 3 on G, 4 on B♭, 5 on D♭.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on E♭, 3 on G, 2 on B♭, 1 on D♭.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · E♭ – G – B♭ – D♭
1st inversion · G – B♭ – D♭ – E♭
2nd inversion · B♭ – D♭ – E♭ – G
3rd inversion · D♭ – E♭ – G – B♭
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
E♭7 inversions
E♭7 can be played in 4 positions. In root position E♭ is at the bottom; each inversion moves the lowest note up an octave, so another chord tone becomes the bass.
- Root positionbass: E♭Right hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: GRight hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: B♭Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 3rd inversionbass: D♭Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
Chords that go with E♭7
The other chords of A flat major, the key where E♭7 is home (V7). Songs in this key move between them.
E♭7 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays E♭ an octave lower, the right hand plays E♭–G–B♭–D♭.
E♭7 on other instruments
About the E♭7 chord
E flat dominant seventh has 4 notes: E♭ (1), G (3), B♭ (5), D♭ (♭7). A dominant seventh: a major triad with the flat seventh on top. It creates tension that wants to resolve, usually to the chord a fifth below.
On the keyboard, start from E♭ and add the other notes above it: E♭ – G – B♭ – D♭. From the lowest to the highest key that is 10 semitones. That is less than an octave, so E♭7 sits comfortably under one hand.
Each inversion of E♭7 puts a different note in the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is G (G–B♭–D♭–E♭). In the 2nd inversion the bass is B♭ (B♭–D♭–E♭–G). In the 3rd inversion the bass is D♭ (D♭–E♭–G–B♭).
E♭7 is E♭ with one note added: D♭.
Keys that contain E♭7: A flat major (V7), F minor (VII7), G sharp minor (V7).
Questions
What notes are in the E♭7 chord?
E♭7 (E flat dominant seventh) has 4 notes: E♭ (1), G (3), B♭ (5), D♭ (♭7).
How many inversions does E♭7 have?
E♭7 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (E♭–G–B♭–D♭); 1st inversion (G–B♭–D♭–E♭); 2nd inversion (B♭–D♭–E♭–G); 3rd inversion (D♭–E♭–G–B♭).
What is the difference between E♭7 and E♭?
E♭7 is E♭ with one note added: D♭.
Can I play E♭7 with one hand?
Yes. In root position E♭7 spans 10 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.