Ukulele · Level 7 · Advanced
The minor blues in E♭ minor on Ukulele
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The minor blues follows the familiar 12-bar shape with minor seventh chords and a ♭VI7–V7 approach. It is a core jazz and blues form.
E♭m7
Notes: E♭ · G♭ · B♭ · D♭
A♭m7
Notes: A♭ · C♭ · E♭ · G♭
B7
Notes: B · D♯ · F♯ · A
B♭7
Notes: B♭ · D · F · A♭
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord on its own: E♭m7, A♭m7, B7 and B♭7. Press play on the chord card, then match the sound.
- Use light pressure; the ukulele's nylon strings need far less force than steel.
- Set the tempo to 66 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Mark bar nine clearly; it is where the ♭VI7 changes the colour.
- Strum down on every beat, then add an up-strum between beats with a loose wrist.
- Raise the tempo to 88 BPM once you can play the loop three times without stopping.
- Record one take, listen back and check for the half-step fall from ♭VI7 to V7.
Listen for
Aim for the half-step fall from ♭VI7 to V7. A common mistake is losing the form during the long stretches on i.
Why it works
♭VI7 is a tritone substitute for the V7 of V, leading by half step into V7.
E♭ minor has 6 flats; its relative major key is G♭ major.
Questions
What are the chords in i–iv–i–♭VI7–V7–i in E♭ minor?
In E♭ minor the progression is E♭m7 | E♭m7 | E♭m7 | E♭m7 | A♭m7 | A♭m7 | E♭m7 | E♭m7 | B7 | B♭7 | E♭m7 | B♭7.
What is the key signature of E♭ minor?
E♭ minor has 6 flats. Its relative major is G♭ major.
Is this lesson right for my level?
This is a level 7 lesson (advanced). If it feels too hard, start with “Borrowed chords: the minor iv”.
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