Major Key Chords
Let’s find all the chords for the key of E flat major. We can use these chords to create chord progressions and play creatively in the key of E flat.
How to Find Chords for E Flat
To find the chords for E flat, we’ll first need to build an E flat major scale (learn how to build a major scale here).
The notes for an E flat major scale are:
E♭ – F – G – A♭ – B♭ – C – D – E♭
Next, we’ll build a “1 – 3 – 5” chord off each note of this scale, using only the notes of the scale to build the chord.
Starting on E♭, we’ll count “1 – 3 – 5” to build our first chord, using only the notes of the scale. When we do, we get: E♭ – G – B♭
Then we’ll start on F and build another “1 – 3 – 5” chord, using only the notes of the scale. When we do, we get: F – A♭ – C
Then we’ll start on G, and build another “1 – 3 – 5” chord, using only the notes of the scale: G – B♭ – D
We can continue following this pattern to build a chord off each note of the scale, using only the notes of the scale to build the chords.
Chords for the Key of E Flat Major
Here are the chords for E flat major:
E♭ – G – B♭ = E♭ major chord
F – A♭ – C = F minor chord
G – B♭ – D = G minor chord
A♭ – C – E♭ = A♭ major chord
B♭ – D – F = B♭ major chord
C – E♭ – G = C minor chord
D – F – A♭ = D diminished chord
Other Major Key Chords
You can find chords for the other major keys below:
C Major Chords
G Major Chords
D Major Chords
A Major Chords
E Major Chords
B Major Chords
F Sharp Major Chords
C Sharp Major Chords
F Major Chords
B Flat Major Chords
A Flat Major Chords
D Flat Major Chords
G Flat Major Chords
C Flat Major Chords
How to Label the Chords
You may have noticed the chords we built were either major, minor or diminished, and you might be wondering how we know the difference between these types. It depends on the intervals used to build the chords (learn about intervals here).
But to summarize, there are actually four types of “1 – 3 – 5” chords, or “triads”:
A major chord is built using the first, third and fifth notes of the matching major scale.
A minor chord is a major chord with the middle note lowered 1/2 step.
An augmented chord is a major chord with the upper-note raised 1/2 step.
A diminished chord is a minor chord with the upper-note lowered 1/2 step.
When we build a chord off each note of the major scale, using only the notes of the scale to build the chords, we’ll always get these chord types in this order:
Major
Minor
Minor
Major
Major
Minor
Diminished
You can use this pattern to find the chords for any major key!
Primary Chords for E Flat Major
Each major key has three “primary” chords. Primary chords are built off the first, fourth and fifth notes of the major scale, and they’re used frequently in songs.
The primary chords for the key of E flat are:
E♭ major
A♭ major
B♭ major
Conclusion
Now you know how to find chords for the key of E flat major on the piano, and you can use this pattern to find the chords for any major key!
Using chords to learn the piano offers a lot of room for creativity and personal expression!
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