Eb Major Chord Progressions for Piano

Eb Major functions as the tonic — the harmonic "home" — in the key of Eb Major. Every progression below resolves back to Eb because it is the point of rest your ear expects after the tension of the dominant (Bb) or subdominant (Ab). This page covers I – IV – V – I, I – V – vi – IV, vi – IV – I – V, and more, with every chord linked to its own page.

Eb Major in Context

Eb Major also plays a role beyond its own key: it is the dominant (V) chord in the key of Ab Major, and the subdominant (IV) chord in the key of Bb Major. Its relative minor is C Minor, which shares the same key signature and often substitutes for Eb in progressions like vi–IV–I–V.

The Eb Major scale is Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D.

Common Eb Major Progressions

I – IV – V – I

Beginner-friendly

A classic cadence that moves from tonic to subdominant to dominant and back home. It is one of the strongest harmonic patterns in Western music.

I · TonicEb MajorEb – G – Bb IV · SubdominantAb MajorAb – C – Eb V · DominantBb MajorBb – D – F I · TonicEb MajorEb – G – Bb

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I – V – vi – IV

Beginner-friendly

One of the most common progressions in popular music. It combines tonic stability, dominant movement, relative minor emotion, and subdominant resolution.

I · TonicEb MajorEb – G – Bb V · DominantBb MajorBb – D – F vi · SubmediantC MinorC – Eb – G IV · SubdominantAb MajorAb – C – Eb

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vi – IV – I – V

Beginner-friendly

Often called the “axis” progression. Starting on the relative minor gives the line a more emotional, introspective feel before resolving toward the dominant.

vi · SubmediantC MinorC – Eb – G IV · SubdominantAb MajorAb – C – Eb I · TonicEb MajorEb – G – Bb V · DominantBb MajorBb – D – F

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ii – V – I

Next step

A foundational progression in jazz and many other styles. It creates strong movement back to the tonic chord through the supertonic and dominant.

ii · SupertonicF MinorF – Ab – C V · DominantBb MajorBb – D – F I · TonicEb MajorEb – G – Bb

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I – vi – IV – V

Beginner-friendly

A timeless “50s” progression that balances major-key brightness with the warmth of the relative minor before moving through subdominant and dominant.

I · TonicEb MajorEb – G – Bb vi · SubmediantC MinorC – Eb – G IV · SubdominantAb MajorAb – C – Eb V · DominantBb MajorBb – D – F

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I – IV – vi – V

Beginner-friendly

A gentle pop progression that keeps the harmony diatonic while highlighting the contrast between major and relative minor chords.

I · TonicEb MajorEb – G – Bb IV · SubdominantAb MajorAb – C – Eb vi · SubmediantC MinorC – Eb – G V · DominantBb MajorBb – D – F

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12-Bar Blues

Next step

The backbone of blues, rock, and jazz. Twelve measures built from tonic, subdominant, and dominant chords create a repeating form you can solo over for hours.

Full 12-bar sequence: I – I – I – I – IV – IV – I – I – V – IV – I – V

I · TonicEb MajorEb – G – Bb IV · SubdominantAb MajorAb – C – Eb V · DominantBb MajorBb – D – F

This triad form matches what Practice Mode and the Progression Trainer drill. Traditional 12-bar blues almost always plays all three chords as dominant sevenths instead of plain triads: Eb7, Ab7, Bb7.

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Continue learning

Practice Eb Major progressions

Drill these changes with a metronome and randomized prompts, or open the Progression Trainer for a guided run-through in Eb Major.