The E♭ Minor 9th chord is a five-note chord made up of E♭, G♭, B♭, D♭, and F. It is built from a root, minor third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, and major ninth.
Construction
E♭ Minor 9th = Root + Minor 3rd + Perfect 5th + Minor 7th + Major 2nd = E♭ · G♭ · B♭ · D♭ · F
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| E♭ | Root | 1 |
| G♭ | Minor 3rd | ♭3 |
| B♭ | Perfect 5th | 5 |
| D♭ | Minor 7th | ♭7 |
| F | Major 2nd | 9 |
Key Signature
A chord has no key signature of its own, but the E♭ Minor 9th is the tonic (i) chord of Eb Minor, which shares the signature of its relative major, Gb Major — 6 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭).
B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭
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♭ Minor
These are the triads built on each degree of the E♭ minor scale:
E♭ Minor 9th — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the E♭ Minor 9th chord on piano?
The E♭ Minor 9th chord contains the notes E♭ – G♭ – B♭ – D♭ – F. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the Eb Minor 9th chord?
The Eb Minor 9th chord (Ebm9) contains five notes: Eb (root), Gb (minor third), Bb (perfect fifth), Db (minor seventh), and F (major ninth). It is Ebm7 with an added ninth.
How does Ebm9 differ from Eb9?
Ebm9 has a minor third (Gb). Eb9 has a major third (G). Ebm9 is dark and lush; Eb9 is dominant.
How is Ebm9 used in music?
Ebm9 is the ii in Db Major (Ebm9–Ab13–Dbmaj9). Db is a popular R&B key, making Ebm9 common in soul and neo-soul.
What songs use Minor 9th chords?
Minor 9th chords define neo-soul and lo-fi. Ebm9 is common in R&B and soul in Db Major.
How does Ebm9 differ from Ebm7?
Ebm9 adds the ninth (F) for richer colour.
Do I need to play all five notes?
No — drop the fifth: Eb–Gb–Db–F is practical.