Em/A chord on guitar
E Minor Over A. Notes: E, G and B.
How to play Em/A
- Put your index finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 2 (E).
- Let the open A, G, B and high E strings ring.
- Don't play the low E string: skip it or mute it with a fretting finger.
- Strum from the A string down.
All 4 ways to play Em/A
Easiest first. Tap play to hear each one.Open position
EasyOpen position
EasyOpen position
EasyFret 2 position
MediumNotes 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/A
More E chords
All E guitar chordsEm/A with another bass note
minor chords in every key
Questions
What notes are in the Em/A chord?
Em/A (E minor over A) is made of three notes: E (root), G (minor third) and B (perfect fifth). The slash means A is played as the lowest note.
How do you play Em/A on guitar?
The easiest Em/A is the "open position" shape. Put your index finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 2 (E). Let the open A, G, B and high E strings ring. Don't play the low E string: skip it or mute it with a fretting finger.
Is Em/A hard to play on guitar?
No. The easiest version is rated easy and uses 1 fretted note plus open strings.
What is the difference between Em/A 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/A in?
Em/A 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.