Vertigo Prelude chord (E♭m(maj7)): how to play it on guitar

Vertigo Prelude chord (E♭m(maj7)): guitar chord

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Standard

Vertigo, 1958 · Bernard Herrmann

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E♭m(maj7)

E♭m(maj7) Standard

4 strings

FamousVertigo1958 · Bernard Herrmann

Prelude (main title): arpeggiated in triplets moving in contrary motion from the first bar, and held as a loud brass chord at the 'James Stewart' credit (bars 12–17)

An E♭ minor chord with a D added on top, written E♭m(maj7). The D sits a half step under the E♭ an octave up, so the chord rubs against itself and never feels settled. In Vertigo's opening titles Herrmann spins it as rising and falling arpeggios that turn like the film's spirals, and the brass hammer it out under the first credit.

Also called Hitchcock, minor-major seventh chord, Hitchcock Chord

Sources: Scott Murphy, 'Three Audiovisual Correspondences in the Main Title for Vertigo', Music Theory Online 28.1 (2022) · Bill Wrobel, Vertigo film score rundown (from the written score) · Film Music Notes, 'Comparing Bernard Herrmann's Psycho Score and Sinfonietta (1936)' · Wikipedia, 'Minor major seventh chord'

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What’s in it

R E♭♭3 G♭5 B♭7 D

About this shape

Lowest note: E♭3, the root
Highest note: D4, the 7th
Stretch: 4 frets
Fingers: 3 fingers, index barre

Where it sits on the neck

Fingering not checked by a guitarist yet.

Vertigo Prelude chord (E♭m(maj7)): guitar chord

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Vertigo Prelude chord (E♭m(maj7)): guitar chord

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