i-♭VI-♭VII-i (Andalusian Rock)
i · ♭VI · ♭VII · i
Aeolian rock pattern; metal anthem flavor.
Key of Eb Minor
The Key of E♭ Minor
The chords in the key of E♭ minor are E♭m, Fdim, G♭, A♭m, B♭m, C♭ and D♭.
Six flats — reserved for genuinely bleak music.
Below: all seven diatonic chords with guitar shapes and audio, the scale, the key signature (B♭ · E♭ · A♭ · D♭ · G♭ · C♭), 5 progressions already transposed into this key, and the keys next door.
Diatonic chords
The 7 chords in the key of E♭ minor
Each degree of the E♭ minor 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♭mE♭ · G♭ · B♭ | ||
| ii° | SubdominantSupertonicDeparts — sets up the V | FdimF · A♭ · C♭ | ||
| III | TonicMediantHome — rests | G♭F♯ · A♯ · C♯spelled G♭ in Eb minor · the chord page is F♯ Major | ||
| iv | SubdominantSubdominantDeparts — sets up the V | A♭mG♯ · B · D♯spelled A♭m in Eb minor · the chord page is G♯ Minor | ||
| v | DominantDominantPulls back to I | B♭mB♭ · D♭ · F | ||
| VI | TonicSubmediantHome — rests | C♭B · D♯ · F♯spelled C♭ in Eb minor · the chord page is B Major | ||
| VII | DominantSubtonicPulls back to I | D♭D♭ · 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♭ minor
Eb minor is rare, and that rarity is the point: composers reach for it when the flat side has run out of darker options. Sharp-side scores print the identical D# minor instead. On any fretted instrument it is a capo-and-transpose situation rather than something you read at sight.
Scale
The E♭ minor 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 Natural Minor (Aeolian).
Key signature
The E♭ minor key signature
B♭ · E♭ · A♭ · D♭ · G♭ · C♭
E♭ minor is written with 6 flats. Every B, E, A, D, G and C in the music is played flat unless an accidental says otherwise. Its relative major, G♭ major, shares this signature exactly.
Progressions
Chord progressions in E♭ minor
The most-used progressions, already transposed into E♭ minor. Every chord links to its own page; the progression name opens the full breakdown.
ii°-V-i (Minor ii-V-i)
iiø · V · i
The minor-key version of ii-V-I.
i-♭VII-♭VI-V (Andalusian)
i · ♭VII · ♭VI · V
Flamenco / Phrygian descent; minor with major V.
i-iv-V (Minor Three Chord)
i · iv · V
Minor three-chord with major V.
i-♭VI-♭VII (Aeolian Loop)
i · ♭VI · ♭VII
Aeolian rock loop.
FAQ
Questions about the key of E♭ minor
- What chords are in the key of Eb minor?
- The key of Eb minor contains seven diatonic chords: Ebm (i), Fdim (ii°), Gb (III), Abm (iv), Bbm (v), Cb (VI), Db (VII). Most songs in Eb minor lean on Ebm, Abm and Bbm — the tonic, subdominant and dominant.
- What is the relative major of Eb minor?
- Gb major is the relative major of Eb minor. Both keys share the same key signature (6 flats) and exactly the same seven notes — Gb major simply treats Gb as home instead of Eb, which is why you can borrow chords freely between them.
- What are the easiest chords in Eb minor to play on guitar?
- Eb minor 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♭ minor
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.