Chords in the key of Eb major on ukulele
The chords in the key of Eb major are built from the notes of the scale: Eb, Fm, Gm, Ab, Bb, Cm, Ddim. Almost every song in this key uses only these, with the dominant Bb7 leading back to Eb.
The chords of the key
- EbI
- Fmii
- Gmiii
- AbIV
- BbV
- Bb7V7
- Cmvi
- Ddimvii°
| Degree | Chord | Function |
|---|---|---|
| I | Eb | tonic (rest) |
| ii | Fm | subdominant (moves away) |
| iii | Gm | tonic (rest) |
| IV | Ab | subdominant (moves away) |
| V | Bb | dominant (tension) |
| V7 | Bb7 | dominant (tension) |
| vi | Cm | tonic (rest) |
| vii° | Ddim | dominant (tension) |
Common progressions
- Pop (I–V–vi–IV): Eb – Bb – Cm – Ab
- 50s (I–vi–IV–V): Eb – Cm – Ab – Bb
- ii–V–I: Fm – Bb7 – Eb – Eb
- Turnaround (I–vi | ii–V7): Eb Cm – Fm Bb7
To improvise
The Eb major scale works over all these chords. To start with less risk, use the major pentatonic: five notes that almost never sound wrong in this key.
Relative key: C minor, with the same notes and a different home chord.