How to play an E-flat major chord
Would you like to know how to play an E-flat (Eb) major chord on the piano? I’ll show you. Put your right hand on the keyboard and place your thumb on the upper black key of the group of two black keys. Then play the white key in the middle area of the group of three black keys – between the first and second black key – and after that the top key of this group of three. This gives you the so-called root position of an E-flat major chord. Super easy. You can also play this hand shape an octave higher – we can play it up here, or with the left hand down here too. It all works. These are all E-flat major chords. Pretty cool, right?
Ways to vary the chord
You can also change this chord slightly, play it a little differently and bring in some variation. For example, you can move the lowest note up an octave, and then you get an E-flat major chord in the first inversion. We can use exactly the same principle again: each time we play the lowest note one octave higher, and we get an E-flat major chord in the second inversion. The same principle once more brings us back to the root position. This way you can spread this hand shape over the whole keyboard. You can play it like this with the left hand. These are all E-flat major chords in different inversions, or in root position – this one here is a root position. Exactly. These are all E-flat major chords that I am playing.
The pro trick
There is another trick to help you remember it. With the Zapiano® Method I always teach holistically. Besides memorizing these hand shapes visually, it is also important that you know the notes of these chords. The notes here are Eb, G and Bb. Once you know the names of these notes on the keyboard, you can suddenly arrange them completely freely. You can also double the notes, just as you like – and it is all E-flat major. You can also play it like this – that sounds really full. And suddenly these chords are no longer a big mystery: you know exactly which notes they are and how you can use them. That gives you much more confidence on the keyboard.
If I look at this E-flat major chord in a wider context, it can appear in three different keys. For example, it can be the first degree in E-flat major. At the same time it can also be the fifth degree in A-flat major, or the fourth degree in B-flat major. You can see which notes belong to E-flat major in the E-flat major scale.
Would you like to learn more about major chords and see more short piano tips like this? At Zapiano® you will regularly find short videos with tips and exercises for playing the piano. There is something for everyone – just as varied as our courses. And the best part: at Zapiano® you are never on your own. You can ask questions at any time and even upload a video of your playing once a month.