Explore chords · Bass
E minor 7th chord on bass (Em7)
Also called or written Em7 or Emin7
E minor 7th contains E, G, B, and D. The open position is the easiest minor 7th shape on bass, using three open strings and one fretted note.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7
How do you play an E minor 7th chord on bass?
E minor 7th is played in open position as 0 2 0 0: index finger on the A string at fret 2. The E, D and G strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | open | — | E (1) |
| 3 (A) | 2 | 1 | B (5) |
| 2 (D) | open | — | D (♭7) |
| 1 (G) | open | — | G (♭3) |
AdvancedThe open position is easy, but the 12th-fret shape requires the same wide stretch as other minor 7th grips.
12th fret
E minor 7th is played at the 12th fret as 12 14 12 12: index finger on the E string at fret 12, pinky finger on the A string at fret 14, middle finger on the D string at fret 12 and ring finger on the G string at fret 12.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 12 | 1 | E (1) |
| 3 (A) | 14 | 4 | B (5) |
| 2 (D) | 12 | 2 | D (♭7) |
| 1 (G) | 12 | 3 | G (♭3) |
Em7/B inversion
E minor 7th is played at the 5th fret as 7 7 5 7: middle finger on the E string at fret 7, ring finger on the A string at fret 7, index finger on the D string at fret 5 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 7.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 7 | 2 | B (5) |
| 3 (A) | 7 | 3 | E (1) |
| 2 (D) | 5 | 1 | G (♭3) |
| 1 (G) | 7 | 4 | D (♭7) |
Em7/D inversion
E minor 7th is played at the 9th fret as 10 10 9 9: ring finger on the E string at fret 10, pinky finger on the A string at fret 10, index finger on the D string at fret 9 and middle finger on the G string at fret 9.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 10 | 3 | D (♭7) |
| 3 (A) | 10 | 4 | G (♭3) |
| 2 (D) | 9 | 1 | B (5) |
| 1 (G) | 9 | 2 | E (1) |
Why it sounds like that
E minor 7th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7. The ♭3 and ♭7 give it a mellow, minor sound. Compare it with E minor, which omits the ♭7.
What goes wrong with E minor 7th?
- Accidentally muting the open 2nd string with the palm of your fretting hand.
- Pressing too hard on the 3rd string, 2nd fret, causing the note to go sharp.
- Letting the index finger touch the 4th string, deadening the open E.
When to use it
E minor 7th appears in the I–V–vi–IV progression in G major: G major–D major–E minor–C major. It suits rock, folk, and pop where the open strings give a bright, ringing tone.
Changing to and from E minor 7th
- Sliding the 12th-fret shape down two frets to the 10th fret gives D minor 7th.
Which voicing to use
The open position keeps E in the bass for a solid root-position sound. The Em7/B inversion at the 7th fret puts B in the bass, which is useful when the bass line moves from the 5th below. The Em7/D inversion at the 10th fret places D in the bass, creating a darker, more suspended feel.
Other E chords
Common questions
How is E minor 7th written?
E minor 7th is written Emin7 or Em7. The root is E.
What is the difference between E minor 7th and E minor?
E minor 7th adds the ♭7, D, to the E minor triad. This extra note gives the chord a softer, more sophisticated sound.
Why is the open position so popular?
The open position uses three open strings, making it very easy to play. It also has a bright, resonant tone that works well in many styles.
Can E minor 7th be played with a barre?
No, the open position does not use a barre. The 12th-fret shape uses the same fingering as the open position but with all strings fretted.