Piano chord
E♭m9E flat minor ninth
- E♭1
- G♭♭3
- B♭5
- D♭♭7
- F9
- Notes
- 5
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 14semitones
- Fingers
- 5 + 1-3-5
How to play E♭m9 on piano
- Find E♭: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Left hand: play E♭ with the little finger (5), an octave below the right hand.
- Right hand: 1 on G♭, 3 on D♭, 5 on F.
- Leave out B♭: the chord is still recognisable without it, and the hand stays relaxed.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · E♭ – G♭ – B♭ – D♭ – F
1st inversion · G♭ – B♭ – D♭ – F – E♭
2nd inversion · B♭ – D♭ – F – E♭ – G♭
3rd inversion · D♭ – F – E♭ – G♭ – B♭
This chord has more notes than one hand holds comfortably; see the two-hand voicing below.
E♭m9 inversions
E♭m9 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♭E♭ – G♭ – B♭ – D♭ – F
- 1st inversionbass: G♭G♭ – B♭ – D♭ – F – E♭
- 2nd inversionbass: B♭B♭ – D♭ – F – E♭ – G♭
- 3rd inversionbass: D♭D♭ – F – E♭ – G♭ – B♭
E♭m9 with two hands
A practical voicing: the left hand plays E♭, the right hand plays the colour notes G♭–D♭–F. Notes that can be left out are left out.
E♭m9 on other instruments
About the E♭m9 chord
E flat minor ninth has 5 notes: E♭ (1), G♭ (♭3), B♭ (5), D♭ (♭7), F (9). A minor ninth: a minor seventh with the ninth. Lush and mellow, heard in neo-soul and jazz ballads.
On the keyboard, start from E♭ and add the other notes above it: E♭ – G♭ – B♭ – D♭ – F. From the lowest to the highest key that is 14 semitones. It is too wide for one hand: play E♭ with the left hand and the rest with the right.
Each inversion of E♭m9 puts a different note in the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is G♭ (G♭–B♭–D♭–F–E♭). In the 2nd inversion the bass is B♭ (B♭–D♭–F–E♭–G♭). In the 3rd inversion the bass is D♭ (D♭–F–E♭–G♭–B♭).
E♭m9 is E♭m7 with one note added: F.
Questions
What notes are in the E♭m9 chord?
E♭m9 (E flat minor ninth) has 5 notes: E♭ (1), G♭ (♭3), B♭ (5), D♭ (♭7), F (9).
How many inversions does E♭m9 have?
E♭m9 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (E♭–G♭–B♭–D♭–F); 1st inversion (G♭–B♭–D♭–F–E♭); 2nd inversion (B♭–D♭–F–E♭–G♭); 3rd inversion (D♭–F–E♭–G♭–B♭).
What is the difference between E♭m9 and E♭m7?
E♭m9 is E♭m7 with one note added: F.
Can I play E♭m9 with one hand?
In root position E♭m9 spans 14 semitones, more than an octave. Play the root with the left hand and the upper notes with the right, or leave out the fifth.