Em7 Chord
How to play E minor 7th on guitar — smooth and mellow; a minor chord with the edge taken off.
- Notes
- E – G – B – D
- Frets (low → high)
- 0 2 0 0 0 0
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Shape
- Movable shape at fret 2
How to play Em7, step by step
- 1Put your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the A string (5th).
- 2Let the low E, D, G, B and high E strings ring open.
- 3Strum slowly and check every string sounds cleanly; if one buzzes, press closer to the fret wire and arch your fingers so they clear the neighbouring strings.
What makes a minor seventh chord
Smooth and mellow; a minor chord with the edge taken off.
| Note | Interval | Semitones above E |
|---|---|---|
| E | root | 0 |
| G | minor 3rd | 3 |
| B | 5th | 7 |
| D | minor 7th | 10 |
Other E chords
Same root, different colour. Swapping one of these into a progression is the quickest way to change its mood without changing the key.
Every minor 7th chord
The same shape moved around the neck. If you can play Em7 you are a fret-slide away from all of these.
Frequently asked questions
- What notes are in the Em7 chord?
- Em7 is made of E, G, B, D — the root, minor 3rd, 5th, minor 7th of E.
- Is Em7 hard to play?
- No — Em7 sits at 0 2 0 0 0 0 and is rated beginner, so it is comfortable for most beginners.
Got a chart full of chords like Em7?
Upload a chord sheet and move every chord into a key that fits your hands and your voice — the layout stays exactly as printed. Or let the capo calculator pick the position that turns the barre chords into open ones.