E♭ Minor Chord (Ebm, D#m) on Piano
The Ebm chord (Eb minor) is built from 3 notes: Eb – Gb – Bb. It is also written as D#m.
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 |
| Gb | b3 | minor 3rd | 3 |
| 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 – Gb – Bb | Eb in the bass |
| 1st inversion | Gb – Bb – Eb | Gb in the bass |
| 2nd inversion | Bb – Eb – Gb | Bb in the bass |
How the minor chord is built
Every minor chord uses the same interval formula: 1 (0 semitones), b3 (3 semitones), 5 (7 semitones). Starting on Eb and applying that formula produces Eb, Gb, Bb. Learn the formula once and you can build a minor chord on any of the twelve roots.
Keys that contain Ebm
Every note of Ebm belongs to these keys, so it will sit naturally in a progression written in any of them.
Other chords on Eb
Minor chords on other roots
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in a Ebm chord?
A Ebm chord contains the notes Eb, Gb, Bb. Those are the 1, b3, 5 degrees measured from the root note Eb.
How do you play Ebm on piano?
Place your thumb on Eb, then add Gb and Bb above it. With a right hand in root position the common fingering is 1–3–5.
Is Ebm the same as D#m?
Yes. Ebm and D#m are enharmonic equivalents — they sound identical and use the same piano keys. Which spelling you use depends on the key you are playing in.