E♭m6 chord
E♭m6 is E♭, G♭, B♭ and C: 1–♭3–5–6 built on E♭. See and hear it on all three instruments below.
On guitar
x-x-1-3-1-2 · movable · medium
- Notes
- E♭ · G♭ · B♭ · C
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · 5 · 6
- First shape
- x-x-1-3-1-2
E♭m6 on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · E♭–G♭–B♭–C · right hand 1-2-3-5
- Notes
- E♭ · G♭ · B♭ · C
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · 5 · 6
E♭m6 on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
3-3-2-3 · movable · medium
- Notes
- E♭ · G♭ · B♭ · C
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · 5 · 6
- First shape
- 3-3-2-3
Changing out of E♭m6
The moves below are the ones you'll meet most, shown for guitar and piano.
- E♭m6 → A♭ (V in D♭ major)
Guitar: E♭m6 (x-x-1-3-1-2) to A♭ (4-6-6-5-4-4): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 4th fret, the middle finger goes to the G string, 5th fret, move the ring finger to the A string, 6th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. The two chords share E♭ and C, which is why the change sounds smooth.
Piano: E♭m6 to A♭: play A♭ in 2nd inversion (E♭–A♭–C) and E♭ and C stay under the same fingers, while G♭ moves up to A♭. A♭ - E♭m6 → F♯ (IV in D♭ major)
Guitar: E♭m6 (x-x-1-3-1-2) to F♯ (2-4-4-3-2-2): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the G string, 3rd fret, the ring finger goes to the A string, 4th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Shared notes: G♭ and B♭.
Piano: E♭m6 to F♯: play F♯ in root position (F♯–A♯–C♯) and F♯ and A♯ stay under the same fingers, while C moves up to C♯. F♯ - E♭m6 → C♯ (I in D♭ major)
Guitar: E♭m6 (x-x-1-3-1-2) to C♯ (x-4-6-6-6-4): the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 4th fret, the middle finger goes to the D string, 6th fret, your ring finger lands on the G string, 6th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit.
Piano: E♭m6 to C♯: play C♯ in 1st inversion (E♯–G♯–C♯), while G♭ moves down to E♯, G♭ up to G♯ and C up to C♯. C♯
Guitar with a capo: capo 1, Dm6 shape; capo 6, Am6 shape. Ukulele with a capo: capo 1, Dm6 shape; capo 6, Am6 shape.
How E♭m6 is built
E♭m6 is E♭ minor with a major sixth added. It sounds moody and cinematic, a favorite in gypsy jazz and film noir, and works as the home chord of a minor key.
Start on E♭, count 3 half steps up to G♭, 4 half steps up to B♭ then 2 half steps up to C. You may also see it as D♯m6: same keys, same frets.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| E♭ | root | 0 | |
| G♭ | minor third | 3 | |
| B♭ | perfect fifth | 7 | |
| C | major sixth | 9 |
Keys and progressions with E♭m6
E♭m6 sits outside the seven chords of every major and natural minor key, so expect it as a color or passing chord.
Chords close to E♭m6
- E♭m6 is E♭m plus C. E♭m
Chords that share most of their notes with E♭m6: Cm7♭5, A♭9, Cdim, E♭m, Cm7, Cdim7.
Every E♭ chord
E♭m6 chord: questions
What notes are in the E♭m6 chord?
E♭, G♭, B♭ and C. E♭m6 is built 1–♭3–5–6 from E♭: G♭ is the minor third, B♭ is the perfect fifth and C is the major sixth.
How do you play E♭m6 on guitar?
The usual shape is x-x-1-3-1-2 (movable). All 4 guitar shapes.
How do you play E♭m6 on piano?
Play E♭, G♭, B♭ and C with right-hand fingers 1-2-3-5. E♭ sits on the black key between D and E. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play E♭m6 on ukulele?
3-3-2-3 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is E♭m6 in?
E♭m6 sits outside the seven chords of every major and natural minor key, so expect it as a color or passing chord.
What's the difference between E♭m6 and E♭m?
E♭m6 is E♭m plus C.
All three instruments are drawn and played from E♭, G♭, B♭ and C by the same engine. Updated September 2026.