Em Chord on Guitar
Notes E G B. Start with open Em (0 2 2 0 0 0): middle and ring fingers on strings 5 and 4 at fret 2, all six strings ring.
Chord · Em minor
Open Em · 0 2 2 0 0 0
open strings
Dm-shape, 4 strings (fret 2) · x x 2 4 5 3
movable, no open strings
Am-shape barre (fret 7) · x 7 9 9 8 7
barre, movable
Em-shape barre (fret 12) · 12 14 14 12 12 12
barre, movable
1 E♭3 G5 B
- String 6 (low E): open
- String 5 (A): middle (2), fret 2
- String 4 (D): ring (3), fret 2
- String 3 (G): open
- String 2 (B): open
- String 1 (high e): open
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 2
- String 3 (G): ring (3), fret 4
- String 2 (B): pinky (4), fret 5
- String 1 (high e): middle (2), fret 3
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 5 to 1 at fret 7
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): index (1), fret 7
- String 4 (D): ring (3), fret 9
- String 3 (G): pinky (4), fret 9
- String 2 (B): middle (2), fret 8
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 7
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 6 to 1 at fret 12
- String 6 (low E): index (1), fret 12
- String 5 (A): ring (3), fret 14
- String 4 (D): pinky (4), fret 14
- String 3 (G): index (1), fret 12
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 12
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 12
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval from E |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | root |
| ♭3 | G | minor 3rd |
| 5 | B | perfect 5th |
Formula 1 ♭3 5 (minor).
Also written Emin, E minor.
More on this chord type: Open (cowboy) chords
Capo shapes that sound as Em
Open shapes you may already know, moved up with a capo.
Dm shape + capo 2
Am shape + capo 7
Need the capo fret for a whole song? Capo calculator: any song key, any shapes. New to the capo? How to use a capo.
Progressions with Em
| Key · progression | Chords | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| E minor i–VI–III–VII | Em – C – G – D | |
| E minor i–VII–VI–VII | Em – D – C – D | |
| G major I–V–vi–IV | G – D – Em – C | |
| G major I–vi–IV–V | G – Em – C – D | |
| A minor i–iv–v–i | Am – Dm – Em – Am |
Keys that contain Em
| Key | Em is the |
|---|---|
| E minor | i |
| A minor | v |
| B minor | iv |
| G major | vi |
| D major | ii |
| C major | iii |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing Em: what goes wrong
Fingers 2 and 3, not 1 and 2
With the middle and ring fingers on the chord, the index is free: drop it on string 3 at fret 1 and Em becomes E. Many songs switch between the two.
Em and G share two notes
Em is E, G, B and G is G, B, D. Because two of three notes are the same, Em and G sit well next to each other in progressions and can stand in for one another under many melodies.
Related chords
Learn and practise Em
- Metronomepractise the change to Em at 60 BPM
- How to read chord chartsstrings, frets, fingers, x and o
- Chord finder (chord namer)name any other shape you find
FAQ
What notes are in Em?
E, G, B: the 1, ♭3, 5 of the Em minor chord.
Why is Em often the first chord taught?
It needs two fingers, every string is strummed, and four of the six open strings (E, G, B, E) are already notes of the chord.