Chords › E♭ minor
E Flat Minor Chord on Guitar
- E♭m
- E♭ · G♭ · B♭
- Barre at fret 6
- Also written D♯m
A-shape barre
Easy, four strings. Play only the top four strings, with no full barre. It is the usual first step before the barre shape.
E flat minor, written E♭m, is a minor chord: the root, the minor third and the fifth, which gives it its darker sound. E♭m has no open shape, so it is usually played as an A-shape barre chord at the 6th fret, and there is an easier four-string version for beginners.
How to play E♭m, finger by finger
- Lay your index finger flat across strings 5 to 1 at the 6th fret.
- Put your middle finger on string 2 at the 7th fret.
- Put your ring finger on string 4 at the 8th fret.
- Put your pinky finger on string 3 at the 8th fret.
- Strum from string 5 down to string 1, and don't play string 6.
Easy E♭m for beginners
Play only the top four strings, with no full barre. It is the usual first step before the barre shape.
More ways to play E♭m
Notes in E♭ minor
| Note | Interval | Role |
|---|---|---|
| E♭ | 1 | root |
| G♭ | ♭3 | minor third |
| B♭ | 5 | fifth |
Formula: 1 – ♭3 – 5
Questions about E♭m
What notes are in E♭m?
E♭, G♭ and B♭. Those are the 1, ♭3, 5 of the chord, counted from E♭.
What is the easiest way to play E♭m?
Play the four-string version on the top strings, frets 1, 3, 4, 2 from the 4th string to the 1st. Move to the full barre at the 6th fret when your index finger is ready.
Is E♭m the same as D♯m?
Yes, on guitar they are played the same way and sound the same. E flat and D sharp are two names for one note: songs in sharp keys write D♯, songs in flat keys write E♭.
Related chords
Often played with E♭m
Other minor chords