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E♭ Minor Guitar Chord (E♭m)

E♭ minor is a three-note chord built from E♭ (the root), G♭ (the minor third), and B♭ (the perfect fifth). It carries real emotional weight: sad in a ballad, brooding in rock, dramatic in flamenco. The minor third is what gives it that pull. Below are 4 ways to play it in standard tuning, easiest shape first.

E♭m 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♭m guitar chord diagram, 1fr, frets x-x-1-3-4-2××1R354R2♭3
1fr
x-x-1-3-4-2
E♭m guitar chord diagram, 3fr, frets x-6-4-3-4-x3fr×4R2♭3153R×
3fr
x-6-4-3-4-x
E♭m guitar chord diagram, Barre · 6fr, frets x-6-8-8-7-66fr×1R354R2♭35
Barre · 6fr
x-6-8-8-7-6
E♭m guitar chord diagram, Barre · 11fr, frets 11-13-13-11-11-1111fr1R253R♭35R
Barre · 11fr
11-13-13-11-11-11

How to play it

Place your index finger on the D (4th) string at fret 1, your middle finger on the high E (1st) string at fret 2, your ring finger on the G (3rd) 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♭
♭3minor thirdG♭
5perfect fifthB♭

E♭m FAQ

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

Is E♭m a barre chord?
Not necessarily. The easiest E♭m shape (x-x-1-3-4-2) needs no barre — it uses 4 fingers. Barre versions exist too, starting at fret 6, and are handy when you want to move the same grip to other keys.

What is the easiest way to play E♭m on guitar?
Start with the 1fr shape x-x-1-3-4-2. Place your index finger on the D (4th) string at fret 1, your middle finger on the high E (1st) string at fret 2, your ring finger on the G (3rd) 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.