Piano chord
E♭maj7E flat major seventh
- E♭1
- G3
- B♭5
- D7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 11semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-3-5
How to play E♭maj7 on piano
- Find E♭: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on E♭, 2 on G, 3 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♭maj7 inversions
E♭maj7 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 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: GRight hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: B♭Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: DRight hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
Chords that go with E♭maj7
The other chords of E flat major, the key where E♭maj7 is home (Imaj7). Songs in this key move between them.
E♭maj7 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays E♭ an octave lower, the right hand plays E♭–G–B♭–D.
E♭maj7 on other instruments
About the E♭maj7 chord
E flat major seventh has 4 notes: E♭ (1), G (3), B♭ (5), D (7). A major seventh: a major triad with the natural seventh, one semitone below the octave. It sounds smooth and dreamy, common in jazz, soul and bossa nova.
Put your thumb on E♭ and count up: E♭ – G – B♭ – D. The whole chord spans 11 semitones from bottom to top. That fits inside an octave, so one hand covers E♭maj7 without stretching.
The inversions of E♭maj7 keep the same notes in a new order. 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♭maj7 is E♭ with one note added: D.
E♭maj7 belongs to B flat major (IVmaj7), E flat major (Imaj7), G minor (VImaj7), C minor (IIImaj7).
Questions
What notes are in the E♭maj7 chord?
E♭maj7 (E flat major seventh) has 4 notes: E♭ (1), G (3), B♭ (5), D (7).
How many inversions does E♭maj7 have?
E♭maj7 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♭maj7 and E♭?
E♭maj7 is E♭ with one note added: D.
Can I play E♭maj7 with one hand?
Yes. In root position E♭maj7 spans 11 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.