Ebm7 Guitar Chord
Eb Minor 7th · also written D#m7 · Eb–Gb–Bb–Db
Ebm7 is the Eb minor 7th chord: Eb–Gb–Bb–Db. Its sound is mellow and soulful — softer than a plain minor chord, at home in funk, R&B, and jazz ii–V–I progressions. It's also written as D#m7 — same notes, same shapes, different spelling.
Ebm7 softens the Eb minor triad with a ♭7 (Db). It's the standard ii chord in Db major — the first chord of the ii–V–I, jazz's most important progression — and a staple of funk vamps and R&B ballads.
The most common way to play Ebm7 is the am7 shape at the 6th fret (x 6 8 6 7 6, low E string to high E string). Below you'll find 6 ways to play it across the neck, from open position to barre and shell voicings, with the theory behind the chord and the progressions it lives in.
How to Play Ebm7: 6 Voicings
Frets are listed from the low E string to the high E string. x = don't play that string, 0 = open string.
Ebm7 Chord Theory
| Interval | R | ♭3 | 5 | ♭7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | Eb | Gb | Bb | Db |
Ebm7 is built from the Eb minor scale.
Ebm7 Chord FAQ
What notes are in the Ebm7 chord?
Ebm7 contains 4 notes: Eb (R), Gb (♭3), Bb (5), Db (♭7). The interval formula for a minor 7th chord is R–♭3–5–♭7.
What is the easiest way to play Ebm7 on guitar?
Use the am7 shape at the 6th fret: x 6 8 6 7 6 (frets listed from the low E string to the high E string, x = don't play that string). Ebm7 has no open-position shape in standard tuning, so this movable form is the standard starting point.
Is Ebm7 a major or minor chord?
Ebm7 is built on a minor triad (Eb–Gb–Bb) with the ♭7 added, so it behaves as a minor-family chord.
Is Ebm7 the same as D#m7?
Yes. Eb and D# are enharmonic equivalents — the same pitch written two ways. Ebm7 and D#m7 use identical shapes and frets; which spelling you see depends on the key of the song.
What keys use the Ebm7 chord?
Ebm7 appears diatonically in F# major (as vi), Db major (as ii), and B major (as iii) — plus it's the home chord (i) of Eb minor.
Related Chords
Hear yourself play Ebm7
OpenFret listens to your real guitar through the microphone. Check your chords ring clean in the free Studio, or learn the fretboard by battling monsters in Guitar Quest — free in your browser, no signup needed.