E♭ minor sixth (E♭m6) chord on mandolin

Minor sixth chord (a minor triad plus a major sixth) on E♭: the notes of the E♭m6 chord are E♭ – G♭ – B♭ – C. The same chord with a different spelling: D♯ minor sixth (D♯m6).

Dots show:

Basic shapemedium

Position 4medium

Position 8medium

Tap a string on a diagram to hear just that string. The sound is generated in your browser with a physical string model.

Chord finder Transposer Tuner

What the E♭m6 chord sounds like

A minor sixth chord is a minor triad with a major sixth: dark but taut, with a film-noir feel. It is a common minor tonic in gypsy jazz, tango and jazz.

Notes of the E♭m6 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	E♭	root
3	G♭	minor third (3 semitones)
5	B♭	perfect fifth (7 semitones) – often omitted on fretted instruments
6	C	major sixth (9 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

String 1 (E): fret 2, middle finger (G♭5)
String 2 (A): fret 3, little finger (C5)
String 3 (D): fret 1, index finger (E♭4)
String 4 (G): fret 3, ring finger (B♭3)

Position 4

String 1 (E): fret 6, little finger (B♭5)
String 2 (A): fret 6, ring finger (E♭5)
String 3 (D): fret 4, index finger (G♭4)
String 4 (G): fret 5, middle finger (C4)

Position 8

String 1 (E): fret 8, ring finger (C6)
String 2 (A): fret 9, little finger (G♭5)
String 3 (D): fret 8, middle finger (B♭4)
String 4 (G): fret 8, index finger (E♭4)

Tuning: G D A E, like a violin; every note is a pair of strings that you fret together. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Which keys is it in?

The E♭m6 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

B♭ minor: iv6 (subdominant)
D♭ major: ii6

Similar chords and substitutes

If E♭m6 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

F♯ – relative major: two shared notes
B – the major chord a major third below: two shared notes
E♭m7 – a fuller, softer minor colour

Same notes

Cm7b5 – the same notes with a different root

Simpler versions

E♭m – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the E♭m6 chord?

E♭, G♭, B♭, C. The root is E♭; the intervals of the other notes from the root: minor third, perfect fifth, major sixth.

What is the easiest way to play E♭m6 on mandolin?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”. We show 3 shapes, from open and easy versions to movable barre shapes higher up the neck.

How do I read the chord diagram?

Strings run from the lowest (left) to the highest (right) – tick “Left-handed” to mirror it. Rows are frets; a number at the side shows the starting fret. Dots are fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little), a long bar is a barre, × means don't play that string and ○ means play it open.

Why is a note missing from some E♭m6 shapes?

On a fretted instrument you can't always play every note of a 4-note chord. The fifth (B♭) may be dropped – the chord keeps its character without it.

How is the E♭m6 chord written?

The chord symbol is E♭m6 (also written Ebm6), and its full name is E♭ minor sixth.