Dominant 7th chord · Eb root
Eb7 chord
- Eb1
- G3
- Bb5
- Db♭7
The Eb dominant 7th chord (also called the D#7 chord — same notes, different spelling) is built from the notes Eb, G, Bb, Db. A dominant 7th shape you will meet in barre-chord territory.
By Chiye · Updated
What is the Eb7 chord?
The Eb7 chord (Eb dominant 7th) is a dominant 7th chord built from four notes: Eb, G, Bb, Db — the 1–3–5–♭7 of the Eb scale, 4 semitones and 7 semitones and 10 semitones above the root. On guitar it is most often played as a movable shape from fret 6 (x-6-8-6-8-6); shift all fretted notes together to transpose it along the neck. It is rated intermediate. A tense, bluesy chord that wants to resolve down a fifth. Below you will find step-by-step fingering, 3 positions up the neck, audio of every shape, and the real progressions this chord lives inside.
How do you play the Eb7 chord on guitar?
Fret 6 barre — a movable shape, so this same fingering works for every root note.
- Lay your index finger flat across the A to high E strings at fret 6, rolled slightly onto its bony edge.
- Press the D string at fret 8 with your ring finger.
- Press the B string at fret 8 with your pinky finger.
- Start your strum on the A string and do not play the low E string at all.
Leave out the lowest fretted note (A string) and practise the remaining strings. The bass changes, and the upper strings may still need a smaller barre; check that the third and other colour tones stay clear. x-x-8-6-8-6
How do you make Eb7 sound clean?
Eb7 is the A7 shape at the 6th fret, where narrow spacing lets the barre feel finished before it is clean. Dead strings hide in exactly this position — the shape sounds fine at strumming volume and falls apart one string at a time.
Bbm7 (1st fret) → Eb7 (6th) → Abmaj7 (4th): the ii–V–I of Ab major, three positions, one chord family. Move once per chord, not once per string.
In real songs
Eb7 in songs
None of the 90 songs charted on this site use Eb7 yet — it is a colour chord rather than a songwriting staple.
What other ways can you play Eb7 up the neck?
2 more positions below. These are the same notes in a different part of the neck. Choosing the position closest to the chord you just played is what stops your hand jumping between changes.
Position 2 · Fret 1
Every note here is fretted, which means the shape transposes anywhere on the neck without changing your fingers.
Position 3 · Fret 11 barre
Every note here is fretted, which means the shape transposes anywhere on the neck without changing your fingers.
The barre is the only hard part of this shape. Keep the bar finger straight and use the weight of your arm rather than the grip of your thumb.
The theory behind Eb7
Eb7 is spelled Eb – G – Bb – Db — the 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 of the Eb scale, which is the root plus 4 semitones, 7 semitones, 10 semitones. A tense, bluesy chord that wants to resolve down a fifth.
The flat seventh is a whole tone below the octave, and it is the note that creates the pull toward the chord a fifth below Eb7. Mute that note by accident and the chord turns into a plain major triad.
What key is the Eb7 chord in?
Eb7 is the V7 in the key of Ab — in both Ab major and G# minor — which is exactly why it resolves to Ab.
the dominant — the flat seventh is what pulls it home
the same dominant job in the minor key
Eb7 on other instruments
Eb – G – Bb – Db — the highlighted black keys are the sharps or flats; play each note once, then move them into one hand position.
Take it to the practice room
