What notes are in the Eb/3 chord?

Eb/3 is made of G, Bb and Eb — the 3, 5 and 1 degrees of a major first inversion chord built on Eb.

What keys use the Eb/3 chord?

Every note of Eb/3 belongs to 6 keys: Bb Major (IV), Eb Major (I), Ab Major (V), G Minor (VI), C Minor (III), F Minor (VII). The roman numeral is the scale degree the chord is rooted on.

How do you play Eb/3 on guitar and piano?

This page shows Eb/3 on piano — 1 voicings in total. Each diagram links to the full instrument page with alternate shapes, audio and common mistakes.

Is Eb/3 the same as D#/3?

Yes. Eb/3 and D#/3 are enharmonic — identical pitches written two different ways. Which spelling you use depends on the key you are in; Eb/3 is the spelling this site treats as canonical.

Chord · Eb Major (1st Inversion)

E♭/3 Chord

E♭/3 is G, Bb and Eb — major triad with the third in the bass.

Hear it

E♭/3 on every instrument

The same 3 notes, 1 sets of hands. Open a diagram for alternate shapes, audio and the mistakes to avoid.

Piano1 voicing

What E♭/3 is made of

Eb Major (1st Inversion) (Eb major (1st inversion)) is built from the notes G, Bb, Eb, with the interval pattern 3, 5, 1. A common major (1st inversion) chord across many styles.

Stack 3, 5 and 1 on a root of E♭ and you get G, Bb and Eb. That interval recipe is what makes the chord a major first inversion chord — move the same shape to another root and the character travels with it, which is why E/3 sounds like a transposed E♭/3.

Major (1st Inversion): Major triad with the third in the bass.

Spelling: the notes above are written the way a score would write them, not simplified to the nearest piano key. That is why this chord is spelled with B♭ rather than its enharmonic equivalent.

Keys that contain E♭/3

All 3 notes sit inside the scale of 6 keys. The roman numeral marks the degree the chord is rooted on.

Major keys

Minor keys

Other chords on E♭

Same root, different colour.

E♭Eb Major E♭mEb Minor E♭dimEb Diminished E♭augEb Augmented E♭sus2Eb Suspended 2nd E♭sus4Eb Suspended 4th E♭5Eb Power Chord E♭6Eb Major 6th

The same major first inversion shape, moved

The identical interval recipe, built on other roots.

E/3E Major (1st Inversion)F/3F Major (1st Inversion)A/3A Major (1st Inversion)B/3B Major (1st Inversion)F♯/3F# Major (1st Inversion)D♭/3Db Major (1st Inversion)A♭/3Ab Major (1st Inversion)B♭/3Bb Major (1st Inversion)

Questions people ask about Eb/3

What notes are in the Eb/3 chord?: Eb/3 is made of G, Bb and Eb — the 3, 5 and 1 degrees of a major first inversion chord built on Eb.
What keys use the Eb/3 chord?: Every note of Eb/3 belongs to 6 keys: Bb Major (IV), Eb Major (I), Ab Major (V), G Minor (VI), C Minor (III), F Minor (VII). The roman numeral is the scale degree the chord is rooted on.
How do you play Eb/3 on guitar and piano?: This page shows Eb/3 on piano — 1 voicings in total. Each diagram links to the full instrument page with alternate shapes, audio and common mistakes.
Is Eb/3 the same as D#/3?: Yes. Eb/3 and D#/3 are enharmonic — identical pitches written two different ways. Which spelling you use depends on the key you are in; Eb/3 is the spelling this site treats as canonical.

Learn the theory behind it

Why E♭/3 behaves the way it does — the guides that explain the chord instead of just spelling it.

Chord Inversions and Slash Chords — Same Notes, Different AttitudeSame notes, different bass note — what the slash in the name is actually doing.5 min read Voice Leading — Hold What You Can, Move Only What You MustInversions exist so your fingers move less between chords. This is the technique behind them.6 min read Functional Harmony: Three Roles, One EngineAn inverted chord still has a job in the key. Here is how to hear it.6 min read