E♭ Major Chord (Eb, D#) on Piano
The Eb chord (Eb major) is built from 3 notes: Eb – G – Bb. It is also written as D#.
Play these notes on a MIDI keyboard, your computer keyboard, or the on-screen keys and ChordKeys will name the chord back to you.
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from Eb | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eb | 1 | root | 0 |
| G | 3 | major 3rd | 4 |
| Bb | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
Inversions
Rearranging which note sits at the bottom gives you 3 playable voicings of the same chord. Inversions let you move between chords with less hand movement.
| Voicing | Notes | Bass note |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | Eb – G – Bb | Eb in the bass |
| 1st inversion | G – Bb – Eb | G in the bass |
| 2nd inversion | Bb – Eb – G | Bb in the bass |
How the major chord is built
Every major chord uses the same interval formula: 1 (0 semitones), 3 (4 semitones), 5 (7 semitones). Starting on Eb and applying that formula produces Eb, G, Bb. Learn the formula once and you can build a major chord on any of the twelve roots.
Keys that contain Eb
Every note of Eb belongs to these keys, so it will sit naturally in a progression written in any of them.
Other chords on Eb
Major chords on other roots
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in a Eb chord?
A Eb chord contains the notes Eb, G, Bb. Those are the 1, 3, 5 degrees measured from the root note Eb.
How do you play Eb on piano?
Place your thumb on Eb, then add G and Bb above it. With a right hand in root position the common fingering is 1–3–5.
Is Eb the same as D#?
Yes. Eb and D# are enharmonic equivalents — they sound identical and use the same piano keys. Which spelling you use depends on the key you are playing in.