Piano chords · Minor 7th chord
E♭m7 piano chord (E♭ minor seventh)
E♭m7 (also written D♯m7) is a minor seventh chord with 4 notes. It sounds mellow and smooth. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
E♭ – G♭ – B♭ – D♭ · tap any key to hear it
The notes of E♭m7
E♭m7 is built from 4 notes (1 – ♭3 – 5 – ♭7):
- E♭, the root
- G♭, the minor third
- B♭, the fifth
- D♭, the minor seventh
Every note is a black key, so your hand sits further into the keyboard. It feels unusual at first, but black-key chords are often the most comfortable once you're used to them.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on E♭, 2 on G♭, 3 on B♭, 5 on D♭.
- Left hand: 5 on E♭, 3 on G♭, 2 on B♭, 1 on D♭.
Press every key at exactly the same moment, with the same weight. If one note sounds louder or a fraction late, the chord sounds uneven: play it slowly and listen for one sound.
Inversions
An inversion is the same notes in a different order, with a different note at the bottom. Inversions let you move between chords without jumping around the keyboard.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top |
|---|---|
| Root position | E♭ – G♭ – B♭ – D♭ |
| 1st inversion | G♭ – B♭ – D♭ – E♭ |
| 2nd inversion | B♭ – D♭ – E♭ – G♭ |
| 3rd inversion | D♭ – E♭ – G♭ – B♭ |
Where E♭m7 belongs
E♭m7 is the ii7 chord in D♭ major, the iii7 chord in C♭ major and the vi7 chord in G♭ major.
E♭m7 is E♭m with a minor seventh, D♭, added on top, which softens it from sad to smooth.
Hear it in a progression
E♭m7 – A♭7 – D♭maj7: ii – V – I in D♭ major, the backbone of jazz.
Playing it, but it doesn't sound right? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a chord that's uneven. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the E♭m7 chord?
E♭m7 (E♭ minor seventh) is made of E♭, G♭, B♭ and D♭: the root, minor third, fifth and minor seventh.
How do you play E♭m7 on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on E♭, 2 on G♭, 3 on B♭, 5 on D♭, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on E♭, 3 on G♭, 2 on B♭, 1 on D♭.
How is E♭m7 different from the plain chord?
E♭m7 is E♭m with a minor seventh, D♭, added on top, which softens it from sad to smooth.