Guitar chord · Intermediate (barre)
E flat minor chord (E♭m) — guitar chord chart
E♭m is a minor chord built on E♭. Its notes are E♭, G♭, B♭. Lowering the 3rd by a half step gives minor chords their darker, more melancholic colour. It’s also written D♯m.
E♭m chord charts
Numbers = fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little). ○ open string, × don’t play. Low E string on the left.
How to play E♭m
- Lay your index finger flat across fret 6, from the 5th string to the 1st string (the barre).
- Ring (3) on the 4th string, fret 8 (B♭).
- Little finger (4) on the 3rd string, fret 8 (E♭).
- Middle (2) on the 2nd string, fret 7 (F♯).
- Strum from the 5th string down; don’t play string 6.
- Pick the strings one at a time: each note should ring clearly — if one buzzes, move that finger closer to the fret.
No barre yet? Put a capo on fret 1 and play the open Dm shape — it sounds as E♭m. Work out other positions with the capo calculator.
Notes in E♭m
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | E♭ | root |
| ♭3 | G♭ | minor 3rd |
| 5 | B♭ | perfect 5th |
Progressions with E♭m
Drill these changes with the chord-change trainer and read how to change chords faster.
FAQ
- What notes are in the E♭m chord?
- E♭m (E flat minor) has 3 notes: E♭, G♭, B♭.
- Is E♭m hard to play?
- It’s a barre chord, but with a capo on fret 1 you can use the open Dm shape instead. Expect a few weeks of practice for a clean barre.
- What’s the difference between E♭m and E♭?
- E♭ is E♭ G B♭. Lowering the 3rd by a half step gives minor chords their darker, more melancholic colour.
- Is E♭m the same as D♯m?
- Yes — they sound the same (enharmonic equivalents). Which name is used depends on the key of the song; the fingerings are identical.