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E♭ major (E♭) on guitar

The E♭ major scale consists of the notes E♭ – F – G – A♭ – B♭ – C – D and has 3 flats. Below you can see every usable note on the neck up to fret 15.

E♭ majorMajor scale

♪ Click a note on the fretboard to hear its sound.

E
B
G
D
A
E
0123•45•67•89•101112••131415•
Root noteOther notes
Click a note to hear it · frets 0–15

Chords in E♭ major

Common progression: E♭ – B♭ – Cm – A♭ (I–V–vi–IV).

Quick overview

Root note
E♭
Mode
major
Key signature
3 flats
Pentatonic
E♭ F G B♭ C
Relative key
C minor

Well-known songs in E♭ major

  • Basket CaseGreen Day
  • Bridge Over Troubled WaterSimon & Garfunkel
  • DemonsImagine Dragons
  • Fix YouColdplay
  • LandslideFleetwood Mac
  • Pride and JoyStevie Ray Vaughan
  • TitaniumDavid Guetta ft. Sia
  • Your SongElton John

Key of the original recording; live versions or covers may differ.

CAGED positions

With the CAGED system you play E♭ in five positions across the whole neck. Each shape connects to the next.

  • D shapearound fret 1 · root on D string, fret 1
  • C shapearound fret 3 · root on A string, fret 6
  • A shapearound fret 6 · root on A string, fret 6
  • G shapearound fret 8 · root on low E string, fret 11
  • E shapearound fret 11 · root on low E string, fret 11

Learn E♭ major in 5 steps

  1. Step 1

    Find the root note E♭

    Find E♭ on the low E string (fret 11) and on the A string (fret 6). Play them alternately and say the name out loud. Every pattern below hangs off these two points.

  2. Step 2

    Play the main chords

    Learn the three most important chords: E♭ (I), A♭ (IV) and B♭ (V). Switch between them at a slow tempo until you can play through without stopping.

  3. Step 3

    Learn the pentatonic in box 1

    The major pentatonic (E♭ F G B♭ C) is the first pattern to learn. Put your index finger around fret 8 and play two notes per string, from the low E to the high e and back.

  4. Step 4

    Extend to the full scale

    Add the two missing notes (A♭ and D) in the same position. Now you're playing all seven notes of Es majeur: E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C D.

  5. Step 5

    Improvise over a chord progression

    Record E♭ – B♭ – Cm – A♭ (or ask someone to play it) and solo over it using box 1. End your phrases on E♭ and listen to how that "coming home" sounds.

Playing E♭ major with a capo

Go to the capo guide

Solo tips for E♭ major

  1. Start with the major pentatonic scale (E♭ F G B♭ C). The best-known "box" pattern starts on the root E♭ on the low E string, fret 11.
  2. End your phrases on the root E♭ for a resolved feeling, or on the third G and fifth B♭ for tension.
  3. Add the blue note G♭ as a passing note for a bluesy sound — don't linger on it too long.
  4. Over the B♭ chord (the V) deliberately play the notes of that chord to make the chord changes audible.

Frequently asked questions about E♭ major

Which notes are in Es majeur?

Es majeur (E♭) consists of the notes E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D. The key signature has 3 flats.

Which chords fit Es majeur?

The diatonic chords in Es majeur are E♭, Fm, Gm, A♭, B♭, Cm, Ddim. You can freely combine them; they all sound good within the key.

What is the relative key of Es majeur?

The relative key is C minor. It uses exactly the same notes and key signature, just with a different tonal centre.

Which pentatonic scale do you use in Es majeur?

Use the major pentatonic scale: E♭, F, G, B♭, C. It avoids the "tricky" half-step intervals and almost always sounds good.

How do I find E♭ on the guitar neck?

You'll find the root E♭ on the low E string at fret 11 and on the A string at fret 6, among other places.