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E♭ Major Guitar Chord (E♭)

E♭ major is a three-note chord built from E♭ (the root), G (the major third), and B♭ (the perfect fifth). It has that unmistakable major-chord brightness: settled, optimistic, with nothing left hanging. You will meet it constantly in the key of E♭ and its close relatives. Below are 4 ways to play it in standard tuning, easiest shape first.

E♭ chord shapes — standard tuning

open string × muted / not played 1–4 suggested finger 3fr shape starts at fret 3 R · 3 · 5 · ♭7 chord tone each string sounds
E♭ guitar chord diagram, 1fr, frets x-x-1-3-4-3××1R254R33
1fr
x-x-1-3-4-3
E♭ guitar chord diagram, Barre · 3fr, frets x-6-5-3-4-33fr×4R33152R3
Barre · 3fr
x-6-5-3-4-3
E♭ guitar chord diagram, Barre · 6fr, frets x-6-8-8-8-66fr×1R253R435
Barre · 6fr
x-6-8-8-8-6
E♭ guitar chord diagram, Barre · 8fr, frets 11-10-8-8-8-118fr3R2315R34R
Barre · 8fr
11-10-8-8-8-11

How to play it

Place your index finger on the D (4th) string at fret 1, your middle finger on the G (3rd) string at fret 3, your ring finger on the high E (1st) string at fret 3, and your pinky finger on the B (2nd) string at fret 4. Keep the low E (6th) and A (5th) strings out of the strum — start your downstroke from the D (4th) string.

Once that shape is comfortable, try the other 3 voicings above — same notes, different neck positions and textures.

Notes in this chord

SymbolIntervalNote
RrootE♭
3major thirdG
5perfect fifthB♭

E♭ FAQ

What notes are in E♭?
E♭ contains E♭, G, and B♭ — the root (E♭), the major third, and the perfect fifth.

Is E♭ a barre chord?
Not necessarily. The easiest E♭ shape (x-x-1-3-4-3) needs no barre — it uses 4 fingers. Barre versions exist too, starting at fret 3, and are handy when you want to move the same grip to other keys.

What is the easiest way to play E♭ on guitar?
Start with the 1fr shape x-x-1-3-4-3. Place your index finger on the D (4th) string at fret 1, your middle finger on the G (3rd) string at fret 3, your ring finger on the high E (1st) string at fret 3, and your pinky finger on the B (2nd) string at fret 4. Keep the low E (6th) and A (5th) strings out of the strum — start your downstroke from the D (4th) string.