Banjo E♭m chord (Sawmill)E♭ minor on the 5-string banjo: 4 3 3 4, and 3 more shapes

Frets, string 4 to string 1: 4 3 3 4 (first position)

1. String 4 (D): 4th fret, middle finger, G♭
2. String 3 (G): 3rd fret, index finger (barre), B♭
3. String 2 (C): 3rd fret, index finger (barre), E♭
4. String 1 (D): 4th fret, ring finger, G♭
5. String 5, the short g: open, G, not in the chord

Sounds: G♭ B♭ E♭ G♭  ·  E♭m is E♭, G♭, B♭ (1 · ♭3 · 5)

Found in: B major (iii), F♯ major (vi), D♭ major (ii), F♯ mixolydian (vi), D♭ mixolydian (ii), A♭ mixolydian (v)

The 5th string: the short g rubs against the G♭ in this shape, a semitone away: some players let it ring, some skip it.

With a capo: on the 1st fret it’s 0 2 2 3 (frets counted from the capo), an open Dm shape. Spike the 5th string at the 6th fret to keep it in tune with the capo.

Sawmill tuning: gDGCD, the short 5th string first, then strings 4 to 1.