E♭ dominant seventh (E♭7) chord on piano

Looking for the E♭7 chord on piano? It is a dominant seventh chord (a major triad plus a minor seventh), made of four notes: E♭ – G – B♭ – D♭. The same chord with a different spelling: D♯ dominant seventh (D♯7).

Root position: E♭4 – G4 – B♭4 – D♭5

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What the E♭7 chord sounds like

The dominant seventh sounds tense and wants to move on: the third and the minor seventh form a tritone that pulls towards the tonic. It is also the basic chord of the blues and early rock'n'roll.

Notes of the E♭7 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	E♭	root
3	G	major third (4 semitones)
5	B♭	perfect fifth (7 semitones)
7	D♭	minor seventh (10 semitones)

Root position and inversions

An inversion uses the same notes, with a different note at the bottom. When you change chords, choosing the nearest inversion keeps your hand almost still.

Root position

E♭4 – G4 – B♭4 – D♭5

1st inversion

G4 – B♭4 – D♭5 – E♭5

2nd inversion

B♭4 – D♭5 – E♭5 – G5

3rd inversion

D♭5 – E♭5 – G5 – B♭5

Which keys is it in?

The E♭7 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

A♭ major: V7 (dominant)
F minor: VII7

Similar chords and substitutes

If E♭7 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

A7 – tritone substitute: the same third and seventh, swapped – a jazz favourite
Gdim7 – diminished seventh on the third: a common stand-in for the dominant
E♭9 – a fuller dominant (with the ninth)
E♭7sus4 – suspended dominant, less tense
A♭ – where it resolves (V → I)

Simpler versions

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

Richer versions

E♭9 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
E♭11 – the same chord plus 2 colour notes
E♭13 – the same chord plus 2 colour notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the E♭7 chord?

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

How do I play the E♭7 chord on piano?

In root position, the right hand usually plays with fingers 1, 3 and 5 (thumb, middle finger, little finger); four-note chords with fingers 1, 2, 3 and 5. The left hand mirrors this: 5, 3, 1. In an inversion the top or bottom note moves to the other side, so your hand moves less when you change chords.

How is the E♭7 chord written?

The chord symbol is E♭7 (also written Eb7), and its full name is E♭ dominant seventh.