Eb6 Eb major sixth chord
- Notes
- Eb G Bb C
- Formula
- 1 3 5 6
- Semitones
- 0 4 7 9 above the root
- Also written
- D#6 (D# F## A# B#)
- Other symbols
- EbM6, Ebmaj6
Eb to G is a major third (4 semitones), G to Bb is a minor third (3 semitones), Bb to C is a major second (2 semitones). A major triad plus the major sixth, C, nine semitones above Eb. With C in the bass the same four keys read as Cm7: which name fits depends on the bass note.
Eb6 on the piano
Root position from Eb4: Eb4, G4, Bb4, C5. Middle C is C4.
Eb6 on the guitar
Standard tuning (E A D G B E). Strings run low E on the left to high e on the right, frets downwards; × is a muted string, ○ an open string, and each dot shows the note it sounds, with the root in blue-green. Every shape below has Eb as its lowest note.
x 6 8 8 8 8 (low E to high e)
Sounds Eb3 Bb3 Eb4 G4 C5
11 x 10 12 11 x (low E to high e)
Sounds Eb3 C4 G4 Bb4
The E-shape and A-shape grips are movable: an E-shape chord's root is the note under your first finger on the low E string, an A-shape chord's root is the note on the A string. Slide the same grip up or down to play major sixth chords on other roots.
Inversions of Eb6
An inversion puts a note other than the root in the bass. The name is what semicord's chord finder calls those notes played bottom to top; a slash name like C/E means a C chord with E in the bass.
| Position | Notes, bass first | Named | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | Eb G Bb C | Eb6 | |
| 1st inversion | G Bb C Eb | Cm7/G (also read as Eb6/G) | |
| 2nd inversion | Bb C Eb G | Cm7/Bb (also read as Eb6/Bb) | |
| 3rd inversion | C Eb G Bb | Cm7 (also read as Eb6/C) |
Where Eb6 fits
Eb6 is I6 in Eb major, IV6 in Bb major. As a final tonic chord it is the swing-era and early rock and roll alternative to Ebmaj7: the sixth, C, adds colour without the half-step rub between Eb and a major seventh.