Chords in the key of Eb minor
The key of Eb minor has seven diatonic chords: EbmEbmEbmEbm, F°, Gb, AbmAbmAbmAbm, BbmBbmBbmBbm, Cb and Db. As sevenths: Ebm7Ebm7Ebm7Ebm7, Fm7b5, Gbmaj7Gbmaj7Gbmaj7Gbmaj7, Abm7Abm7Abm7Abm7, Bbm7Bbm7Bbm7Bbm7, Cbmaj7Cbmaj7Cbmaj7Cbmaj7 and Db7Db7Db7Db7. They come from the Eb natural minor scale, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb and Db, 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 – Gb – Ab – Bb – Cb – Db| Degree | Triad | Seventh | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| i | EbmEbmEbmEbm | Ebm7Ebm7Ebm7Ebm7 | tonic |
| ii° | F° | Fm7b5 | subdominant |
| III | GbGbGbGb | Gbmaj7Gbmaj7Gbmaj7Gbmaj7 | tonic |
| iv | AbmAbmAbmAbm | Abm7Abm7Abm7Abm7 | subdominant |
| v | BbmBbmBbmBbm | Bbm7Bbm7Bbm7Bbm7 | dominant |
| VI | CbCbCbCb | Cbmaj7Cbmaj7Cbmaj7Cbmaj7 | subdominant |
| VII | DbDbDbDb | Db7Db7Db7Db7 | subdominant |
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.
These are the chords of the natural minor scale. In practice the v often becomes V (major) or V7, borrowed from the harmonic minor, to create the leading tone that pulls back to the tonic.