major sixth chord
E♭, G, B♭ and C
- Root
- E♭
- Major third
- G
- Perfect fifth
- B♭
- Major sixth
- C
Formula
1 3 5 6 (4, 7, 9 half steps above E♭)
Fingering in root position
| Notes | E♭ | G | B♭ | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
E♭6 inversions
E♭6 has 3 inversions. Each one keeps the same notes and puts a different one at the bottom, so your hand can stay close to the chord before or after it.
E♭6
Root position
| Notes | E♭ | G | B♭ | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
E♭6/G
First inversion
| Notes | G | B♭ | C | E♭ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
E♭6/B♭
Second inversion
| Notes | B♭ | C | E♭ | G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
E♭6/C
Third inversion
| Notes | C | E♭ | G | B♭ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Where E♭6 fits
All of its notes are in E♭ major, B♭ major and A♭ major, so it fits naturally in those keys.
How E♭6 is built
E♭ is the root, G the major third, B♭ the perfect fifth and C the major sixth.
A major sixth chord is a major chord plus the major sixth, 9 half steps above the root. E♭6 uses the same keys as C minor 7: the name depends on which note is heard as the root.
Every chord takes every other letter of the alphabet, so the letters of E♭6 are E, G, B, C. That is why it is spelled E♭, G, B♭ and C.
Find E♭6 yourself
Without looking at the diagrams, find the chord on the keyboard, then each inversion. Saying the notes out loud as you tap them helps them stick.
Step 1 of 4
Tap the notes of E♭6, in any octave and any order.
Practice E♭6 in real music
MasterPiano gives you new music to read at your level and listens as you play, through a MIDI keyboard or your device's microphone, marking each note right or wrong.
Start freeQuestions
What notes are in the E♭6 chord?
E♭6 has four notes: E♭, G, B♭ and C. E♭ is the root, G the major third, B♭ the perfect fifth and C the major sixth.
What fingers do you use for E♭6 on piano?
In root position, play E♭, G, B♭ and C with right hand fingers 1, 2, 4 and 5 (thumb, index finger, ring finger and little finger) and left hand fingers 5, 3, 2 and 1. The fingers change a little in each inversion; every inversion on this page shows its own.
What are the inversions of E♭6?
E♭6 has 3 inversions, one for each note other than the root at the bottom. First inversion (E♭6/G): G, B♭, C and E♭. Second inversion (E♭6/B♭): B♭, C, E♭ and G. Third inversion (E♭6/C): C, E♭, G and B♭.
What is a major sixth chord?
A major sixth chord is a major chord plus the major sixth, 9 half steps above the root. E♭6 uses the same keys as C minor 7: the name depends on which note is heard as the root. All the notes of E♭6 are in E♭ major, B♭ major and A♭ major.