Skip to content

E♭ Major 6

Also known as D♯ Major 6
Same keys, different spelling.
Open D♯ Major 6 →Same chord, spelled with sharpsWhat are enharmonics? →Why one chord has two names
Jump to any chord

Listen plays the chord. Play Along lights up each note in order so you can follow.

E♭6
E♭ – G – B♭ – C
Formula:Root - Major 3rd - Perfect 5th - Major 6th
Intervals:1-3-5-6
Scale Degrees:1-3-5-6

Introduction

Eb Major 6 piano chord, root position — Eb, G, Bb, C
The Eb Major 6 chord in root position on a piano keyboard, notes Eb, G, Bb, C.

The E♭ Major 6 chord is a four-note chord made up of E♭, G, B♭, and C.

Notes

Notes:E♭ – G – B♭ – C

E♭ Major 6 Inversions

Eb Major 6 piano chord, 1st inversion — G, Bb, C, Eb
The Eb Major 6 chord, 1st inversion, on a piano keyboard.
Eb Major 6 piano chord, 2nd inversion — Bb, C, Eb, G
The Eb Major 6 chord, 2nd inversion, on a piano keyboard.
Eb Major 6 piano chord, 3rd inversion — C, Eb, G, Bb
The Eb Major 6 chord, 3rd inversion, on a piano keyboard.
PositionNotes
Root PositionE♭ – G – B♭ – C
1st InversionG – B♭ – C – E♭
2nd InversionB♭ – C – E♭ – G
3rd InversionE♭ – G – B♭ – C

Key Signature

The key of Eb Major 6 has 3 flats.

B♭E♭A♭

Order of flats

Flats are added in a fixed order — the reverse of the sharp order. Each new flat key adds the next flat on the list.

B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭

Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father

Chords in the Key of E♭ Major

These are the diatonic triads built on each degree of the E♭ major scale:

C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
I — E♭ Major (major)
DegreeNumeralChordQuality
1IE♭ MajorMajor
2iiF MinorMinor
3iiiG MinorMinor
4IVA♭ MajorMajor
5VB♭ MajorMajor
6viC MinorMinor
7vii°D DiminishedDiminished

Theory: Intervals

Formula: Root - Major 3rd - Perfect 5th - Major 6th
Intervals: 1-3-5-6

The E♭ Major 6 is built by stacking intervals from the root note. The formula Root - Major 3rd - Perfect 5th - Major 6th describes the scale degrees used. The intervals 1-3-5-6 show the distance between each note in the chord.

E♭ Major 6 — Frequently Asked Questions

What notes are in the Eb Major 6 chord?
Eb6 contains: Eb, G, Bb, C. Major triad with major sixth.
How does Eb6 differ from Ebmaj7?
Eb6 has C (sixth). Ebmaj7 has D (seventh).
How does Eb6 differ from Cm7?
Same four notes, different root.
How is Eb6 used?
Vintage jazz, swing, big band. Eb is a standard jazz key.
What songs use Major 6th?
Swing era, big band.
Can I substitute Eb6 for Eb Major?
Yes — warmer tonic.

Practice Tips

  • Play Eb Major then add C.
  • Eb6 and Cm7 same notes.
  • Standard jazz key.
  • Vintage big band tonic.
  • Compare with Ebmaj7.
  • Warm, nostalgic sound.

Related Tools

Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.