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Note identifier · Reference entry

What chord is C–E♭–G?

The notes C, E♭, and G spell C Minor (Cm) — C the root, E♭ the ♭3, and G the 5th.

Ranked readings

Every chord these notes can spell, most complete first. The bass note anchors the root-position reading; each candidate maps every note to its scale degree.

C MinorCmConfident

Every tone of Cm is present, with C in the bass — the definitive reading.

DegreeNoteIn this set
1Csounding
♭3E♭sounding
5Gsounding
E♭ Major 6E♭6Likely

root, 3rd, and 6th of E♭6 sound; it reads as E♭6 with the B♭ (5) omitted.

DegreeNoteIn this set
1E♭sounding
3Gsounding
5B♭omitted
6Csounding

Not these chords

Names these notes are often mistaken for. Each is ruled out because a defining tone of that chord is missing — the note that would make the name true simply is not being played.

Not E♭6/9

Not E♭6/9: a major 6/9 E♭ chord needs F as its 9th — F is absent.

How these notes relate

C, E♭, and G is a voicing of E♭6 with the B♭ (5th) left out.

Add F (its 9th) and the set reads as E♭6/9.

Set-class analysis

The pitch-class set theory identity of these notes — order- and key-independent, computed from the set itself.

Pitch-class set
{0, 3, 7}
Normal order
[0,3,7]
Prime form
[0,3,7]
Interval vector
<001110>
Forte set class
3-11

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