I-IV-V (the Three Chord Trick)
I · IV · V
The most fundamental progression in Western music.
Key of Eb
The Key of E♭ Major
The chords in the key of E♭ major are E♭, Fm, Gm, A♭, B♭, Cm and Ddim.
Three flats, and a lot of history.
Below: all seven diatonic chords with guitar shapes and audio, the scale, the key signature (B♭ · E♭ · A♭), 8 progressions already transposed into this key, and the keys next door.
Diatonic chords
The 7 chords in the key of E♭ major
Each degree of the E♭ major scale carries one chord. Roman numerals show the degree; the function column tells you what the chord does. Every name links to its full chord page — press play to hear it on guitar.
| Degree | Function | Chord | Guitar shape | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | TonicTonicHome — rests | E♭E♭ · G · B♭ | ||
| ii | SubdominantSupertonicDeparts — sets up the V | FmF · A♭ · C | ||
| iii | TonicMediantHome — rests | GmG · B♭ · D | ||
| IV | SubdominantSubdominantDeparts — sets up the V | A♭A♭ · C · E♭ | ||
| V | DominantDominantPulls back to I | B♭B♭ · D · F | ||
| vi | TonicSubmediantHome — rests | CmC · E♭ · G | ||
| vii° | DominantLeading tonePulls back to I | DdimD · F · A♭ |
Want the same chords on another instrument? Every chord page carries piano, ukulele, bass, mandolin and banjo shapes — start with piano.
Character
Why songs live in E♭ major
Eb major is the key of Beethoven's Eroica and of most of the alto- and baritone-sax repertoire, since those are Eb instruments. Gospel, soul and big-band arranging return to it constantly. Guitarists usually reach it with a capo at the third fret playing C shapes, which is also the fastest way to sound like a horn chart.
Scale
The E♭ major scale
Seven notes, in order from the tonic. Tap any note to hear it, or play the whole scale ascending.
Fretboard patterns and full scale reference: Eb Major (Ionian).
Key signature
The E♭ major key signature
B♭ · E♭ · A♭
E♭ major is written with 3 flats. Every B, E and A in the music is played flat unless an accidental says otherwise. Its relative minor, C minor, shares this signature exactly.
Progressions
Chord progressions in E♭ major
The most-used progressions, already transposed into E♭ major. Every chord links to its own page; the progression name opens the full breakdown.
I-V-vi-IV (the Pop Punk Progression)
I · V · vi · IV
The 4-chord pop progression that powers thousands of hits.
vi-IV-I-V (Sensitive Female)
vi · IV · I · V
The minor-flavored sibling of I-V-vi-IV.
I-vi-IV-V (the Doo-Wop)
I · vi · IV · V
The 1950s ballad backbone.
I-IV-I-V
I · IV · I · V
Classic 4-bar phrase with a leading-tone pull on bar 4.
I-♭VII-IV (Mixolydian Rock)
I · ♭VII · IV
Mixolydian flavor; classic rock pull.
12-Bar Blues
I · I · I · I · IV · IV · I · I · V · IV · I · V
The defining blues form. 4 bars I, 2 bars IV, 2 bars I, 1 bar V, 1 bar IV, 1 bar I, 1 bar V (turnaround).
8-Bar Blues
I · V · IV · IV · I · V · I · V
Compressed blues form.
FAQ
Questions about the key of E♭ major
- What chords are in the key of Eb major?
- The key of Eb major contains seven diatonic chords: Eb (I), Fm (ii), Gm (iii), Ab (IV), Bb (V), Cm (vi), Ddim (vii°). Most songs in Eb major lean on Eb, Ab and Bb — the tonic, subdominant and dominant.
- What is the relative minor of Eb major?
- C minor is the relative minor of Eb major. Both keys share the same key signature (3 flats) and exactly the same seven notes — C minor simply treats C as home instead of Eb, which is why you can borrow chords freely between them.
- What are the easiest chords in Eb major to play on guitar?
- Eb major has no open guitar shapes — every diatonic chord needs a barre or a movable grip in standard tuning. Most guitarists capo and play open shapes from an easier key instead.
Learn the theory
Read up on E♭ major
This page is the reference. These are the guides that explain how a key works in the first place — read one and the table above stops needing to be looked up.