Em chord on guitar (E minor)
4 ways to play Em, with finger positions and sound. Tap a diagram to hear it.
Em
Minor · E G B (1 ♭3 5)
4 ways to play it
Brown dots are the root note. Tap a diagram to hear it.
How to play Em
The most common shape, the first one in the chord finder above:
- Put your middle finger on string 5 at fret 2.
- Put your ring finger on string 4 at fret 2.
- Let strings 6, 3, 2, 1 ring open.
- Strum from string 6 down.
Notes in Em
Em is a minor chord made of E, G, B. Its formula is 1 ♭3 5: a root, a minor third, and a perfect fifth.
- E1
- G♭3
- B5
Em in a chord progression
In the key of E minor, Em is the i chord. This progression, i–VI–III–VII, is one of the most used in minor keys:
Related chords
Learning a song with Em?
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Turn a song into tabEm chord FAQ
What notes are in the Em chord?
Em is made of E, G, B. As degrees of the scale: 1 ♭3 5.
How many ways can you play Em on guitar?
The chord finder above shows 4 shapes for Em, from the open position up the neck. Pick the one closest to the chords before and after it.
What is the difference between Em and E?
Em has a minor third, G. E raises it a semitone to G♯, which gives the major chord its brighter sound. The other notes are the same.