How to play the Ebmaj7 chord on guitar
Learn to play the dreamy Ebmaj7 chord, featured in hits like "Hey Jude" and "Wonderwall."
The Ebmaj7 chord
The Ebmaj7 chord, pronounced "E flat major seventh," is a rich and complex chord that adds a dreamy, jazzy flavor to your playing. Notable for its smooth sound, the Ebmaj7 is often used in jazz, R&B, and neo-soul genres. Songs like "Girl from Ipanema" and "Isn't She Lovely" showcase this chord's potential to create a sophisticated and mellow atmosphere in your music.
There are many ways to play a chord. Here's a diagram for the most common Ebmaj7 chord. We've also included other versions below.
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Finger placement for Ebmaj7 chord
The standard way to play the Ebmaj7 chord on guitar is as a barre chord on the 6th fret.
Follow these finger positions to play a Ebmaj7 chord on your guitar:
- Barre your index finger across all six strings on the 6th fret.
- Place your middle finger on the 7th fret of the 3rd (G) string.
- Place your ring finger on the 8th fret of the 5th (A) string.
- Place your pinky finger on the 8th fret of the 4th (D) string.
To strum this chord, use your pick or thumb to strum downward, hitting all six strings. Alternatively, you can pluck the individual strings one at a time for a more delicate sound.
How to play an easy Ebmaj7 chord on guitar
If you're a beginner looking to play a simpler version of the Ebmaj7 chord, try this:
- Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the 3rd (G) string.
- Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 5th (A) string.
- Leave the other strings open.
- Strum from the 5th (A) string down to the 1st (high E) string.
How to play a Ebmaj7 bar chord
Playing the Ebmaj7 chord as a barre chord can be a great way to add variety and richness to your guitar playing, especially when transitioning between other barre chords.
Here's how to play an Ebmaj7 barre chord:
- Place your index finger across all six strings on the 6th fret, creating a barre.
- Place your middle finger on the 7th fret of the 3rd (G) string.
- Place your ring finger on the 8th fret of the 5th (A) string.
- Place your pinky finger on the 8th fret of the 4th (D) string.
- Strum from the 6th (low E) string down to the 1st (high E) string.
Common Ebmaj7 chord progressions
The Ebmaj7 chord is often used in progressions to add a dreamy, nostalgic, or bittersweet feel to a song. Some common chord progressions featuring Ebmaj7 include:
- I - V7sus4 - Imaj7 - IV6: Ebmaj7 - Bb7sus4 - Ebmaj7 - Abmaj7/C
- ii7 - V7 - Imaj7: Fm7 - Bb7 - Ebmaj7
- Imaj7 - iii7 - vi7 - ii7 - V7: Ebmaj7 - Gm7 - Cm7 - Fm7 - Bb7 (Used in "Fly Me to the Moon" and "Misty")
- Imaj7 - V7/ii - ii7 - V7: Ebmaj7 - A7 - Fm7 - Bb7
- Imaj7 - VII7 - III7 - VI7: Ebmaj7 - D7 - G7 - C7
Drills to master the Ebmaj7 chord
To master the Ebmaj7 guitar chord, try this simple drill: play each note of the chord (Eb, G, Bb, and D) individually, letting each ring out clearly. Once comfortable, play the notes together as a chord, strumming slowly and ensuring each note sounds clean and crisp.
Another effective drill is to practice transitioning to and from Ebmaj7. Choose a chord you know well, like C or G, and alternate between playing it and Ebmaj7. Focus on smooth, precise transitions, gradually increasing your speed as you become more confident with the changes.
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Songs that feature the Ebmaj7 chord
Here are 10 popular songs you can play with the Ebmaj7 chord.
- Stay by Post Malone (Ebmaj7, Db/F, Abm7, Ebm7)
- Shallow by Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper (Ebmaj7, Db, Ab, Fm7, Bbm)
- All of Me by John Legend (Ebmaj7, Cm7, Gm7, Bb7sus4)
- The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra (Ebmaj7, Eb6, Fm7, Bb7)
- Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars (Ebmaj7, Gm7, Cm7, Abmaj7)
- Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran (Ebmaj7, Gm7, Cm7, Fm7, Bb7sus4)
- Hello by Adele (Ebmaj7, Cm, Ab, Eb/G)
- I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston (Ebmaj7, Abmaj7, Db/F, Cm7, Bb7sus4)
- Love on the Brain by Rihanna (Ebmaj7, Ebm7, Db, Cm)
- Everything by Michael Bublé (Ebmaj7, Bbm7, Fm7, Abmaj7)
How a guitar teacher can help
If you feel stuck in your playing, it might help to take personalized guitar lessons with an expert guitarist. Taking lessons with a pro gives you access to the skills, feedback, and motivation to reach your goals.
You can find expert guitar teachers to support you in the journey. Thousands of people have turned to online guitar lessons on Til, instead of traditional in-person lessons, because Til gives you access to the best teachers in the world from the comfort of home. And with flexible scheduling, secure payments, lesson recordings, and a private chat with your teacher–there’s never been a better way to learn guitar.