Em/Ab chord on guitar

E Minor Over A Flat. Notes: E, G and B.

Em/Ab guitar chord diagram, open position4Abbass1B52ERAbBEGBE
Open position · Easy

How to play Em/Ab

  1. Put your index finger on the 5th (A) string at fret 2 (B).
  2. Put your middle finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 2 (E).
  3. Put your pinky finger on the 6th (low E) string at fret 4 (Ab).
  4. Let the open G, B and high E strings ring.
  5. Strum from the low E string down.
Lowest note: Ab (the root)Strings played: 6 of 6Other voicings: 3 below

All 4 ways to play Em/Ab

Easiest first. Tap play to hear each one.
Em/Ab guitar chord, open position4Abbass1B52ERAbBEGBE

Open position

Easy
Em/Ab guitar chord, open position4Abbass1B52ER3Gb3AbBEGBG

Open position

Easy
Em/Ab guitar chord, fret 3 position3fr××4Abbass2B53ER1Gb3AbBEG

Fret 3 position

Medium
Em/Ab guitar chord, fret 6 position6fr××1Abbass4ER3Gb32B5AbEGB

Fret 6 position

Hard

Notes and theory

Eroot
Gb3 · minor third
B5 · perfect fifth

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/Ab

More E chords

All E guitar chords

Em/Ab with another bass note

minor chords in every key

Questions

What notes are in the Em/Ab chord?

Em/Ab (E minor over A flat) is made of three notes: E (root), G (minor third) and B (perfect fifth). The slash means Ab is played as the lowest note.

How do you play Em/Ab on guitar?

The easiest Em/Ab is the "open position" shape. Put your index finger on the 5th (A) string at fret 2 (B). Put your middle finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 2 (E). Put your pinky finger on the 6th (low E) string at fret 4 (Ab).

Is Em/Ab hard to play on guitar?

No. The easiest version is rated easy and uses 3 fretted notes plus open strings.

What is the difference between Em/Ab 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/Ab in?

Em/Ab 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.