The Key Of Eb Major For Guitar

The notes in the key of Eb major are: Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D

When assembled sequentially the notes form the Eb Major Scale.

Table of Contents

Eb or D# Major?

Both Eb major and D# major are used on the guitar, but Eb major (E flat major) is generally more practical due to its relationship with standard tuning and the layout of the fretboard.

In standard tuning (E, A, D, G, B, E, ), Eb major is relatively easy to play, as you can simply use the same chord shapes as E major but move everything one fret lower.

On the other hand, D# major is less intuitive as the chord shapes don’t fit as naturally into the standard tuning of the guitar, making it less commonly used and often less convenient.

However, the choice between Eb major and D# major can also depend on the musical context. In certain genres or compositions, you might encounter D# more often.

So, while both Eb major and D# major can be used on the guitar, Eb major is more commonly encountered due to its alignment with standard tuning and common chord shapes.

You can learn more about musical keys and how they are named here.

The Eb Major Scale Step Pattern

Like all major scales, the Eb major scale follows a pattern of whole steps and half steps, as follows: whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half.

Playing The Eb Major Scale

The root Eb note can be found on the 11th fret of the 6th (E) string. One way to play this scale is to use the caged E shape scale pattern below. You can read more about the CAGED system by clicking here.

Keep in mind, this is just one approach. There are many ways to play scales.

Chords In The Key Of Eb Major

All chords constructed from major scales follow the pattern of:

Major, minor, minor, Major, Major, minor, Diminished.

Maj	min	min	Maj	Maj	min	Dim
Eb	f	g	Ab	Bb	c	D

*There are many different ways to play the chords above, the examples above are some of the easier voicings for each.

7th Chords in Eb Major

7th chords can be used in place of triads (major, minor, augmented, and diminished). They add richness, complexity, and depth to music by introducing additional harmonic flavors and tension. In the key of Eb major, we have the following 7th chords:

Chord	Notes
Eb Major 7	Eb, G, Bb, D
F minor 7	F, Ab, C, Eb
G minor 7	G, Bb, D, F
Ab Major 7	Ab, C, Eb, G
Bb Dominant 7 (Ab7)	Bb, D, F, Ab
C minor 7	C, Eb, G, Bb
D Half-Diminished 7 (Minor 7 Flat 5)	D, F, Ab, C

Chord Function

Chords play roles within given keys due to the interplay between the notes that make up the chords, creating and resolving tension that gives rise to interesting, and pleasing chord progressions.

For example, the V chord, or dominant chord (Bbmaj) plays an important role in this regard, due to its inherent instability which introduces tension that pulls us strongly back to the tonic chord (Ebmaj) to resolve.

Tonic	Supertonic	Mediant	Subdominant	Dominant	Submediant	Subtonic
I	ii	iii	IV	V	vi	vii°
Ebmaj	fmin	gmin	Abmaj	Bbmaj	cmin	Ddim

* Capitals denote Major chords, lower case denotes minor chords.

You can read more about chord function and the relationship between chords here.

Common Chord Progressions In Eb Major

I – V – vi – IV	Ebmaj – Bbmaj – cmin – Gmaj
I – IV – V	Ebmaj – Gmaj – Bbmaj
I – vi – IV – V	Ebmaj – cmin – Gmaj – Bbmaj
I – IV – vi – V	Ebmaj – Gmaj – cmin – Bbmaj
I – V – vi – iii – IV	Ebmaj – Bbmaj – cmin – f#min – Gmaj

Relative Minor

The relative minor key to Eb Major is C minor. C minor contains the same notes as Eb major, however, the sequence of notes begins on the 6th scale degree.