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E minor 9th chord on guitar (Em9)
Also called or written Em9 or E
E minor 9th contains E, G, B, D and F♯. The open position is one of the easiest minor 9th grips, with only two fretted notes.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7, 9
- Root positionE–G–B–D–F♯Em90-2-0-0-0-2
- First inversionG–B–D–F♯–EEm9/G3-2-2-4-3-2
- Second inversionB–D–F♯–E–GEm9/B×-2-2-0-3-2
- Third inversionD–F♯–E–G–BEm9/D10-10-×-11-12-12
- Fourth inversionF♯–E–G–B–DEm9/F♯2-2-0-0-0-0
How do you play an E minor 9th chord on guitar?
E minor 9th is played in open position as 0 2 0 0 0 2: index finger on the A string at fret 2 and middle finger on the high e string at fret 2. The low E, D, G and B strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | open | — | E (1) |
| 5 (A) | 2 | 1 | B (5) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (♭7) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | open | — | B (5) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 2 | F♯ (2) |
AdvancedThe open position requires clean fretting on the A and high e strings without muting the adjacent open strings.
Open · 0-2-0-0-3-2
E minor 9th is played in open position as 0 2 0 0 3 2: index finger on the A string at fret 2, ring finger on the B string at fret 3 and middle finger on the high e string at fret 2. The low E, D and G strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | open | — | E (1) |
| 5 (A) | 2 | 1 | B (5) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (♭7) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 3 | D (♭7) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 2 | F♯ (2) |
Open · 0-2-2-0-3-2
E minor 9th is played in open position as 0 2 2 0 3 2: index finger on the A string at fret 2, middle finger on the D string at fret 2, pinky finger on the B string at fret 3 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 2. The low E and G strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | open | — | E (1) |
| 5 (A) | 2 | 1 | B (5) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 2 | E (1) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 4 | D (♭7) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 3 | F♯ (2) |
12th fret
E minor 9th is played at the 12th fret as 12 14 12 12 12 14: barre your index finger across fret 12, ring finger on the A string at fret 14 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 14.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 12 | 1 (barre) | E (1) |
| 5 (A) | 14 | 3 | B (5) |
| 4 (D) | 12 | 1 (barre) | D (♭7) |
| 3 (G) | 12 | 1 (barre) | G (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 12 | 1 (barre) | B (5) |
| 1 (e) | 14 | 4 | F♯ (2) |
Em9/G inversion
E minor 9th is played at the 2nd fret as 3 2 2 4 3 2: barre your index finger across fret 2, middle finger on the low E string at fret 3, pinky finger on the G string at fret 4 and ring finger on the B string at fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3 | 2 | G (♭3) |
| 5 (A) | 2 | 1 (barre) | B (5) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 1 (barre) | E (1) |
| 3 (G) | 4 | 4 | B (5) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 3 | D (♭7) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (2) |
Why it sounds like that
E minor 9th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7, 9. The minor 3rd between E and G gives the chord its minor quality, while the major 2nd from E to F♯ adds the ninth. Compare it with E minor 7th, which omits the ninth.
What goes wrong with E minor 9th?
- Let the index finger flatten onto the 4th string, muting the open D.
- Let the middle finger touch the 2nd string, muting the open B.
- Strum too hard, causing the open strings to overpower the fretted notes.
When to use it
E minor 9th works as the vi chord in G major, as in the progression G–D–E minor–C, the I–V–vi–IV. Use it in folk or indie rock for a warm, mellow color. It also substitutes for E minor when you want the added ninth.
Changing to and from E minor 9th
- From E minor 9th to E minor 7th, lift the middle finger and play the 1st string open; the other fingers stay put.
- Sliding the 12th-fret barre shape down two frets to the 10th fret gives D minor 9th.
Which voicing to use
The open position keeps E in the bass for a root-position sound. The Em9/G inversion at the 2nd fret puts the minor 3rd in the bass, softening the chord. Choose the 12th fret barre when you need a higher register with the same root.
Other E chords
Common questions
What is the difference between E minor 9th and E minor add 9?
E minor 9th includes the ♭7 (D), while E minor add 9 omits the ♭7. The add 9 chord has a more open, less jazzy sound.
Can E minor 9th be played as a barre chord?
Yes, the 12th-fret barre shape is the same voicing moved up. It is easier to slide but requires a full barre.
Why does E minor 9th sound brighter than E minor 7th?
The added ninth (F♯) creates a major 2nd against the root, adding a shimmer that the minor 7th lacks.