E♭ Major Chord on Piano – Notes, Inversions and Songs

Q: Where can I learn to play this chord easily?

La Touche Musicale is a popular app specialized in piano learning. You can register for free and learn to play your favorite songs with this chord and many others.

Q: Where can I learn more chords?

You can use our La Touche Musicale app or browse our blog category to learn how to play all the popular piano chords .

The E-flat major chord, noted Eb (E♭) in sheet music, is a harmonic mainstay in many musical genres, from jazz to pop. Its presence is frequent in ballads and romantic pieces, where it helps create enveloping atmospheres.

In this article, we’ll learn how to play the notes and inversions of the E flat chord on the piano. To do so, we’ll provide you with textual details on the notes and their fingering, as well as explanatory diagrams and tutorial videos. At the end of the article, you’ll find a selection of songs that use this chord in their musical production.

Ready to get started? Let’s get started!

Learn chords and more with the La Touche Musicale app

The E♭ major chord: what is it?

The E-flat major chord, often abbreviated to Eb major, is a triadic chord in the tonal music system. It consists of three notes: the root note E-flat (Eb), the major third G (G), and the perfect fifth B-flat (Bb). This chord is renowned for its warm sound, playing a central role in various musical genres, including jazz, classical and pop. It evokes feelings of comfort and well-being.

How to play the root position of the E♭ major chord on the piano?

Right hand

Let’s start with the right hand. The E♭ major is made up of 3 notes: a root note, a third and a fifth. To compose this chord, press the following three notes at the same time on your piano with the fingers indicated:

B♭ – Fifth finger (5)
G – Third finger (3)
E♭ – First finger (1)

Notes of the E♭ major chord in the root position of the right hand on a piano keyboard (with fingering).

Notes of the E♭ major chord in the root position of the right hand on a score staff.

Left hand

For the left hand, the notes remain the same but the position of the fingers changes. Play your E♭ major by pressing the following 3 notes:

B♭ – First finger (1)
G – Third finger (3)
E♭ – Fifth finger (5)

Notes of the E♭ major chord in the root position of the left hand on a piano keyboard (with fingering).

Notes of the E♭ major chord in the root position of the left hand on a score staff.

Tutorial video

Learn chords and more with the La Touche Musicale app

How to play the first inversion of the E♭ major chord on the piano?

Right hand

The first inversion of the E♭ major chord is composed of the following 3 notes in the right hand:

E♭ – Fifth finger (5)
B♭ – Second finger (2)
G – First finger (1)

Notes of the first inversion of the E♭ major chord played with the right hand on a piano keyboard (with fingering).

Notes of the first inversion of the E♭ major chord played with the right hand on a score staff.

Left hand

To play the same E♭ major inversion with your left hand, only the position of the fingers changes:

E♭ – First finger (1)
B♭ – Third finger (3)
G – Fifth finger (5)

Notes of the first inversion of the E♭ major chord played with the left hand on a piano keyboard (with fingering).

Notes of the first inversion of the E♭ major chord played with the left hand on a score staff.

Tutorial video

How to play the second inversion of the E♭ major chord on the piano?

Right hand

The second inversion of the E♭ major chord is played with the following 3 notes in the right hand:

G – Fifth finger (5)
E♭ – Third finger (3)
B♭ – First finger (1)

Notes for the second inversion of the E♭ major chord played with the right hand on a piano keyboard (with fingering).

Notes for the second inversion of the E♭ major chord played with the right hand on a score staff.

Left hand

Press the following 3 keys on your keyboard to play the second inversion of E♭ major chord with your left hand and the appropriate fingers:

G – First finger (1)
E♭ – Third finger (3)
B♭ – Fifth finger (5)

Notes for the second inversion of the E♭ major chord played with the left hand on a piano keyboard (with fingering).

Notes for the second inversion of the E♭ major chord played with the left hand on a score staff.

Tutorial video

Learn chords and more with the La Touche Musicale app

Exercises to master the E♭ major chord on the piano

To perfect your experience of this chord, we strongly recommend that you practice several times a week. This, combined with effective exercises, will enable you to quickly master the E flat major chord on the piano. You can also use our piano learning app to practice this chord with your favorite songs.

Here are a few exercises to help you make rapid progress:

Exercise 1: Basic chord progression

Start by playing the E-flat major chord in root position, as seen earlier in this article. Then move on to a G minor chord (Gm), an A flat major chord (Ab), and finish with a B flat major chord (Bb). Repeat this progression several times to familiarize yourself with the transition from one chord to the next, emphasizing fluidity and precision.

Exercise 2: Arpeggios in E♭ major

Play the notes of the E-flat major chord in arpeggio, i.e. one at a time, ascending and descending the piano keyboard. Start slowly, to get to grips with the sound of each note, and gradually increase the tempo. This exercise will help develop the agility of your fingers while reinforcing your sound recognition of the chord.

Exercise 3: Melodic improvisation

Using a simple rhythmic base or a recording of your choice in the key of E-flat major, improvise melodies using only the notes of the E-flat major chord (Eb, G, Bb). The aim is to develop your musical ear and creativity by exploring different ways of integrating this chord into a particular melodic context.

Exercise 4: Transposition

Choose an easy song you know well and transpose it to E♭ major. This transposition involves playing all the chords in the song, moving them until they align harmonically with the E♭ major chord. This advanced exercise will improve your understanding of music theory and your adaptability at the piano.

Exercise 5: Creative accompaniment

Create an accompaniment for a melody using the E-flat major chord as the main chord. Vary the rhythms and inversions of the chord to maintain interest and originality. Try incorporating rhythmic or harmonic elements you don’t normally use to enrich your sound palette.

Some popular songs that use the E♭ major

Georgia On My Mind by Ray Charles

In this timeless, popular Ray Charles tune, the E-flat major chord contributes strongly to the expressiveness of the piece.

Learn to play Georgia On My Mind by Ray Charles easily on the piano →

Autumn Leaves by Joseph Kosma

A jazz standard often played in E♭t major, this song uses this chord to evoke the passing of time and the melancholy beauty of autumn. Its harmonic progression has served as the basis for many jazz improvisation exercises.

Learn to play Autumn Leaves by Joseph Kosma easily on the piano →

Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars

In this famous song by international artist Bruno Mars, the E-flat major chord plays a key role in creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere. It’s an excellent example of the use of this chord in contemporary pop.

Learn to play Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars easily on the piano →

Conclusion

The E♭ major chord occupies a special place in the musical landscape, spanning genres and eras with timeless grace. Its warm, enveloping sound makes it a powerful expressive tool for composers and musicians, capable of evoking a wide range of emotions.

We recommend that you practice this chord several times a week, so that you can incorporate it into your compositions or piano performances.

You can also use our piano learning app to practice this chord and many others with your favorite songs.