Ebm7 Chord
Ebm7 combines a minor triad with D flat, its flat seventh. In a ii-V-I it often starts the journey rather than ending it.
- Notes: E flat-G flat-B flat-D flat
- Symbol: Ebm7
- ii7 in Db major
- Minor third and flat seventh
Ebm7
How to play an Ebm7 chord
Notes: Eb - Gb - Bb - DbEbm7
Root position
Eb - Gb - Bb - Db1st inversion
Gb - Bb - Db - Eb2nd inversion
Bb - Db - Eb - Gb3rd inversion
Db - Eb - Gb - Bb
Where does Ebm7 belong?
In Db major, Ebm7 starts as ii7 before the dominant moves toward the tonic.
Play the role cards to hear how its surrounding chords change the job it does; Diatonic Chords explains the basic numbered roles.
- The ii in ii-V-Iii7
The first step of the most common move in jazz, heading to Db.
Ebm7ii7Ab7Dbmaj7 - The relative minorvi7
Same notes as Gb major with a darker center.
Gbmaj7Ebm7vi7Abm7Db7 - Dorian vampi7
Two chords back and forth: the major IV gives Eb Dorian its brighter minor sound.
Ebm7i7Ab7 - A soft stand-iniii7
It shares three notes with Bmaj7, so it moves without leaving home. In this key the chord is spelled D#m7.
Bmaj7D#m7iii7Emaj7
Progressions to try
- Ebm7Ab7Dbmaj7
Ebm7 begins a ii-V-I in Db major; listen for the move through the dominant to the maj7 arrival.
- Gbmaj7Ebm7Abm7Db7
Here Ebm7 serves as vi7, keeping the phrase moving toward the following minor-seven chord.
- Ebm7Ab7
The two-chord Dorian vamp gives Ebm7 room to sound like a center without a final cadence.
- Bmaj7D#m7Emaj7
In B major, Ebm7 acts as iii7 between the home and IVmaj7 chords. Here the same sounding chord is written D#m7 rather than Ebm7.
Which shape should you use?
On guitar, start with x68676, a barre at the 6th fret. Press the barred notes evenly and mute any strings marked x. The 11-13-11-11-11-11 shape gives you another position when the neighboring chords sit elsewhere on the neck.
On ukulele, start with 3324, played at the 2nd fret. The 6666 grip moves the chord to another register.
On piano, play E flat-G flat-B flat-D flat. Move E flat up an octave to reach the first inversion, G flat-B flat-D flat-E flat; the notes remain the same while the lowest voice changes.
What are the inversions?
E flat is the root, G flat the minor third, B flat the fifth and D flat the flat seventh.
- Root position: E flat-G flat-B flat-D flat, with E flat lowest.
- First inversion: G flat-B flat-D flat-E flat, written Ebm7/Gb if G flat is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Second inversion: B flat-D flat-E flat-G flat, written Ebm7/Bb if B flat is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Third inversion: D flat-E flat-G flat-B flat, written Ebm7/Db if D flat is lowest in the whole arrangement.
A slash chord names the note in the bass, not merely the lowest note under one hand. Chord Inversions shows how to read that distinction.
How does Ebm7 differ from Eb7?
Keep E flat, B flat and D flat, then raise the third from G flat to G. That turns Ebm7 into Eb7; listen to the one moving voice. Try that one-note change on piano, then use the comparer to hear it in the full chord. See Eb7 for the other chord's full spelling and roles.
Ebm7
Eb - Gb - Bb - DbEb7
Eb - G - Bb - Db