Chords in the key of Eb major
The key of Eb major has seven diatonic chords: Eb, FmFmFmFm, GmGmGmGm, Ab, Bb, CmCmCmCm and D°. As sevenths: Ebmaj7Ebmaj7Ebmaj7Ebmaj7, Fm7Fm7Fm7Fm7, Gm7Gm7Gm7Gm7, Abmaj7Abmaj7Abmaj7Abmaj7, Bb7Bb7Bb7Bb7, Cm7Cm7Cm7Cm7 and Dm7b5. They come from the Eb major scale, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C and D, one on each note.
The table shows each chord in two versions: the triad (the three-note chord) and the seventh chord (the same chord with a fourth note, the seventh, that enriches it).
Notes: Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb – C – D| Degree | Triad | Seventh | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | EbEbEbEb | Ebmaj7Ebmaj7Ebmaj7Ebmaj7 | tonic |
| ii | FmFmFmFm | Fm7Fm7Fm7Fm7 | subdominant |
| iii | GmGmGmGm | Gm7Gm7Gm7Gm7 | tonic |
| IV | AbAbAbAb | Abmaj7Abmaj7Abmaj7Abmaj7 | subdominant |
| V | BbBbBbBb | Bb7Bb7Bb7Bb7 | dominant |
| vi | CmCmCmCm | Cm7Cm7Cm7Cm7 | tonic |
| vii° | D° | Dm7b5 | dominant |
The roman numerals mark the chord's position in the scale: I is the first degree, V the fifth. Uppercase = major chord; lowercase = minor; ° = diminished.
Tonic chords stabilize and rest; subdominant chords prepare motion; dominant chords build the tension that asks for resolution.