What notes are in an E♭6 chord?

E♭6 contains four notes: E♭ (root), G (major third), B♭ (perfect fifth), and C (major sixth).

Is E♭6 the same as C minor 7?

Enharmonically yes — same four pitches. E♭6 has E♭ as root (major tonic); Cm7 has C as root (minor 7th).

How is E♭6 different from E♭maj7?

Only the top note changes. E♭6 has C (major sixth); E♭maj7 has D (major seventh). E♭6 sounds softer; E♭maj7 has more tension from the half-step between D and E♭.

When is E♭6 used in big-band jazz?

As a tonic chord at the end of arrangements in E♭ major. The 6th adds a softer, more "complete" feel than a plain E♭ triad, and it avoids the major-7 dissonance against the root.

Eb major 6 chord — notes, intervals, and practice

E♭6 — E♭, G, B♭, C — is an E♭ major triad with an added major sixth. The chord is fundamental to big-band jazz because E♭ is a horn-friendly key; E♭6 appears at every primary cadence in E♭-major arrangements. It's enharmonic to C minor 7, sharing the same four pitches.

Intervals

The Eb major 6 chord stacks two thirds on the root. Each interval and its size in semitones:

Eb→Gmajor 3rd4 semitones
G→Bbminor 3rd3 semitones
Bb→Cmajor 2nd2 semitones

On the keyboard

Each note of the Eb major 6 chord highlighted on a piano. Pitch class is what matters — any octave works.

On the guitar

One voicing of the Eb major 6 chord on a six-string guitar fretboard.

Common mistakes

E♭6 has C natural as its sixth — a half-step lower than E♭maj7 (which has D natural). Reading C as C♭ or D would produce different chords. On piano, the chord falls comfortably as black-white-black-white starting from E♭.

In context

E♭6 is the I chord in E♭ major (often used as a softer alternative to E♭maj7) and a final cadence chord in big-band arrangements. "Misty" (in E♭) often resolves to E♭6 at the end. The chord is also fundamental to bebop in E♭ and to many Charlie Parker compositions.

Drill it

The Eb major 6 chord is one of 48 in the Chord Trainer. Open the full trainer to practice it alongside related chords with timing and best-time tracking.

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Frequently asked

What notes are in an E♭6 chord?: E♭6 contains four notes: E♭ (root), G (major third), B♭ (perfect fifth), and C (major sixth).
Is E♭6 the same as C minor 7?: Enharmonically yes — same four pitches. E♭6 has E♭ as root (major tonic); Cm7 has C as root (minor 7th).
How is E♭6 different from E♭maj7?: Only the top note changes. E♭6 has C (major sixth); E♭maj7 has D (major seventh). E♭6 sounds softer; E♭maj7 has more tension from the half-step between D and E♭.
When is E♭6 used in big-band jazz?: As a tonic chord at the end of arrangements in E♭ major. The 6th adds a softer, more "complete" feel than a plain E♭ triad, and it avoids the major-7 dissonance against the root.