E♭ Minor 9th
Also Known As
Hear the E♭ Minor 9th chord played for you.
E♭m9
E♭ – G♭ – B♭ – D♭ – F
Formula:R-m3-P5-m7-M9
Intervals:P1-m3-P5-m7-M9
Scale Degrees:1-b3-5-b7-9
Introduction
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.
The Eb Minor 9th piano chord (Ebm9) consists of the notes Eb, Gb, Bb, Db, F. It is a minor 7th chord with an added major 9th, giving it a dark yet lush character widely used in jazz, soul, and R&B progressions. Formula: R-m3-P5-m7-M9 | Scale degrees: 1-b3-5-b7-9.
Notes
Key Signature
The key of Eb Minor 9th has 6 flats.
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 diatonic triads built on each degree of the E♭ minor scale:
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
i — E♭ Minor (minor)
Theory: Intervals
Formula: R-m3-P5-m7-M9
Intervals: P1-m3-P5-m7-M9
The E♭ Minor 9th is built by stacking intervals from the root note. The formula R-m3-P5-m7-M9 describes the scale degrees used. The intervals P1-m3-P5-m7-M9 show the distance between each note in the chord.
E♭ Minor 9th — Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Practice Tips
- Play Ebm7 then add F — hear the ninth open up the chord.
- Ebm9 has a distinctive all-black-keys-plus-F shape.
- Practice Ebm9 → Ab13 → Dbmaj9 for the ii–V–I in Db.
- Ebm9 is beautiful in R&B ballads.
- Drop the fifth: Eb–Gb–Db–F is standard.
- Rootless: Gb–Bb–Db–F (Gbmaj7 shape) for jazz comping.
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.