E♭ Major Guitar Chord (E♭)
E♭ is the key of tuned-down guitar. Hendrix and Stevie Ray played in E♭ by dropping every string a half step and keeping their E shapes. In standard tuning you fret it directly. xx1343, the D shape moved up one.
E♭ comes deep dish.
E♭ chord shapes in standard tuning
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.
Notes in this chord
| Symbol | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| R | root | E♭ |
| 3 | major third | G |
| 5 | perfect fifth | B♭ |
Keep exploring
Other tunings
Open the interactive chord charts to see E♭ in open G, drop D, DADGAD, and more tunings.
More E♭ chords
- E♭ minor (E♭m)
- E♭ dominant 7th (E♭7)
- E♭ minor 7th (E♭m7)
- E♭ major 7th (E♭maj7)
- E♭ suspended 4th (E♭sus4)
Nearby major chords
E♭ FAQ
What notes are in E♭?
E♭ contains E♭, G, and B♭. That's 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.