E/Bb chord on guitar

E Major Over B Flat. Notes: E, G# and B.

E/Bb guitar chord diagram, open position×1Bbbass3ER2G#3BbEG#BE
Open position · Easy

How to play E/Bb

  1. Put your index finger on the 5th (A) string at fret 1 (Bb).
  2. Put your middle finger on the 3rd (G) string at fret 1 (G#).
  3. Put your ring finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 2 (E).
  4. Let the open B and high E strings ring.
  5. Don't play the low E string: skip it or mute it with a fretting finger.
  6. Strum from the A string down.
Lowest note: Bb (the root)Strings played: 5 of 6Other voicings: 3 below

All 4 ways to play E/Bb

Easiest first. Tap play to hear each one.
E/Bb guitar chord, open position×1Bbbass3ER2G#3BbEG#BE

Open position

Easy
E/Bb guitar chord, open position××1Bbbass3ER2G#3BbEG#B

Open position

Easy
E/Bb guitar chord, fret 7 position7fr××2Bbbass3ER4G#31B5BbEG#B

Fret 7 position

Medium
E/Bb guitar chord, barre at fret 96fr×1Bbbass2ER4B54ER4G#3BbEBEG#

Barre at fret 9

Hard

Notes and theory

Eroot
G#3 · major third
B5 · perfect fifth

The major triad is the bright, settled chord that most songs start and end on. The formula is 1 3 5, and you will also see it written as Emaj and EM.

Keys that use E/Bb

More E chords

All E guitar chords

E/Bb with another bass note

major chords in every key

Questions

What notes are in the E/Bb chord?

E/Bb (E major over B flat) is made of three notes: E (root), G# (major third) and B (perfect fifth). The slash means Bb is played as the lowest note.

How do you play E/Bb on guitar?

The easiest E/Bb is the "open position" shape. Put your index finger on the 5th (A) string at fret 1 (Bb). Put your middle finger on the 3rd (G) string at fret 1 (G#). Put your ring finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 2 (E).

Is E/Bb hard to play on guitar?

No. The easiest version is rated easy and uses 3 fretted notes plus open strings.

What is the difference between E/Bb and Em?

Only the third changes. E major uses a major third and sounds bright; E minor lowers that note by a half step, which makes it sound darker. The root and the fifth stay the same.

What key is E/Bb in?

E/Bb belongs to 6 keys: E major (as the I chord), A major (as the V chord), B major (as the IV chord), C sharp minor (as the III chord), F sharp minor (as the VII chord) and G sharp minor (as the VI chord).

What does a major chord sound like?

The major triad is the bright, settled chord that most songs start and end on.