Em chord on guitar
E Minor. Notes: E, G and B.
How to play Em
- Put your middle finger on the 5th (A) string at fret 2 (B).
- Put your ring finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 2 (E).
- Let the open low E, G, B and high E strings ring.
- Strum from the low E string down.
All 4 ways to play Em
Easiest first. Tap play to hear each one.Open position
EasyBarre at fret 2
HardFret 9 position
HardBarre at fret 7
HardNotes and theory
The minor triad swaps the major third for a minor third, which gives it a darker, sadder color. The formula is 1 b3 5, and you will also see it written as Emin and E-.
Keys that use Em
More E chords
All E guitar chordsEm with another bass note
minor chords in every key
Questions
What notes are in the Em chord?
Em (E minor) is made of three notes: E (root), G (minor third) and B (perfect fifth).
How do you play Em on guitar?
The easiest Em is the "open position" shape. Put your middle finger on the 5th (A) string at fret 2 (B). Put your ring finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 2 (E). Let the open low E, G, B and high E strings ring.
Is Em hard to play on guitar?
No. The easiest version is rated easy and uses 2 fretted notes plus open strings.
What is the difference between Em and E?
Only the third changes. E major uses a major third and sounds bright; E minor lowers that note by a half step, which makes it sound darker. The root and the fifth stay the same.
What key is Em in?
Em belongs to 6 keys: C major (as the iii chord), D major (as the ii chord), G major (as the vi chord), E minor (as the i chord), A minor (as the v chord) and B minor (as the iv chord).
What does a minor chord sound like?
The minor triad swaps the major third for a minor third, which gives it a darker, sadder color.