Em/D chord on guitar
E Minor Over D. Notes: E, G and B.
How to play Em/D
- Let the open D, G, B and high E strings ring.
- Don't play the low E and A strings: skip them or mute them with a fretting finger.
- Strum from the D string down.
All 4 ways to play Em/D
Easiest first. Tap play to hear each one.Open position
EasyFret 3 position
EasyFret 4 position
EasyFret 7 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/D
More E chords
All E guitar chordsEm/D with another bass note
minor chords in every key
Questions
What notes are in the Em/D chord?
Em/D (E minor over D) is made of three notes: E (root), G (minor third) and B (perfect fifth). The slash means D is played as the lowest note.
How do you play Em/D on guitar?
The easiest Em/D is the "open position" shape. Let the open D, G, B and high E strings ring. Don't play the low E and A strings: skip them or mute them with a fretting finger. Strum from the D string down.
Is Em/D hard to play on guitar?
No. The easiest version is rated easy and uses 0 fretted note plus open strings.
What is the difference between Em/D 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/D in?
Em/D 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.