E-flat Minor Chord

How to play the E-flat Minor Chord on the piano

Let’s go through some charts that will familiarize you with the E-flat Minor Chord and how to play it in the various forms you will encounter in pieces of music. First, we’ll look at the fundamental chord and its inversions; then, we’ll explore some more complex voicings.

The E-flat Minor Chord in root position

In root position, the notes of the E♭ minor chord are stacked in thirds with E♭ on the bottom. The appearance on the staff is evenly spaced, as is the feeling of the space in between your fingers while playing.

E-flat Minor Chord in root position
Note Order	E♭ G♭ B♭
Left Hand Fingering	5 3 1
Right Hand Fingering	1 3 5
Chord Symbol	E♭m

The E-flat Minor Chord in first inversion

In first inversion, the third of the chord (G♭) becomes the bottom note, and the root (E♭) jumps up to the top.

E-flat Minor Chord in 1^st inversion
Note Order	G♭ B♭ E♭
Left Hand Fingering	5 3 1
Right Hand Fingering	1 2 5
Chord Symbol	E♭m⁶ or E♭m/G♭

The E-flat Minor Chord in second inversion

In second inversion, the fifth of the chord (B♭) is on the bottom, and the third of the chord (G♭) goes to the top.

E-flat Minor Chord in 2^nd inversion
Note Order	B♭ E♭ G♭
Left Hand Fingering	5 2 1
Right Hand Fingering	1 3 5
Chord Symbol	E♭m^6/4 or E♭m/B♭

E-flat Minor Chord theory and function

A minor chord has the lowered third, which gives it a quieter, darker color. In a major key the minor chords play supporting roles. In a minor key the minor tonic chord is home.

The E♭ minor chord is the supertonic (ii) in D♭ major and the submediant (vi) in G♭ major. In minor keys, it is the tonic (i) in E♭ minor and the subdominant (iv) in B♭ minor. On the keyboard this is the same chord as D♯ minor, and the spelling follows the key. The D♯ minor chord is the mediant (iii) in B major. In minor keys, it is the dominant (v) in G♯ minor.

The place a student meets a minor chord most often is ii, leading to V and then home. In D♭ major that is E♭m – A♭ – D♭. In E♭ minor the everyday pattern is i – iv – V – i: E♭m – A♭m – B♭ – E♭m, where the major V comes from the raised seventh. A minor chord is also the relative minor of the major chord a minor third above it, so a piece can move between the two and change color without leaving the key.