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E minor chord on guitar (Em)
Also called or written Em or Emin
E minor contains E, G, and B, built from 1, ♭3, 5. The open shape is the first chord many guitarists learn, with all six strings ringing.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5
- Root positionE–G–BEm0-2-2-0-0-0
- First inversionG–B–EEm/G3-2-2-0-0-0
- Second inversionB–E–GEm/B×-2-2-0-0-0
How do you play an E minor chord on guitar?
E minor is played in open position as 0 2 2 0 0 0: index finger on the A string at fret 2 and middle finger on the D string at fret 2. The low E, G, B and high e 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) | open | — | B (5) |
| 1 (e) | open | — | E (1) |
BeginnerThe hardest part is keeping the index and middle fingers arched on the A and D strings while the open G string rings clearly.
Open · G on top
E minor is played in open position as 0 2 2 0 0 3: index finger on the A string at fret 2, middle finger on the D string at fret 2 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 3. The low E, 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) | 2 | 2 | E (1) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | open | — | B (5) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 3 | G (♭3) |
7th fret
E minor is played at the 7th fret as × 7 9 9 8 7: barre your index finger across fret 7, ring finger on the D string at fret 9, pinky finger on the G string at fret 9 and middle finger on the B string at fret 8. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 7 | 1 (barre) | E (1) |
| 4 (D) | 9 | 3 | B (5) |
| 3 (G) | 9 | 4 | E (1) |
| 2 (B) | 8 | 2 | G (♭3) |
| 1 (e) | 7 | 1 (barre) | B (5) |
12th fret
E minor is played at the 12th fret as 12 14 14 12 12 12: barre your index finger across fret 12, ring finger on the A string at fret 14 and pinky finger on the D 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) | 14 | 4 | E (1) |
| 3 (G) | 12 | 1 (barre) | G (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 12 | 1 (barre) | B (5) |
| 1 (e) | 12 | 1 (barre) | E (1) |
Emin/G inversion
E minor is played in open position as 3 2 2 0 0 0: ring finger on the low E string at fret 3, index finger on the A string at fret 2 and middle finger on the D string at fret 2. The G, B and high e strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3 | 3 | G (♭3) |
| 5 (A) | 2 | 1 | B (5) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 2 | E (1) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | open | — | B (5) |
| 1 (e) | open | — | E (1) |
Why it sounds like that
E minor is built from the root E, a minor third G, and a perfect fifth B. The ♭3 interval is what separates it from E major, which raises that note to G♯. This single semitone change turns the chord from bright to dark.
What goes wrong with E minor?
- Letting the index or middle finger collapse and mute the open G string.
- Pressing the fretted notes too hard and bending the strings sharp.
- Strumming unevenly so some open strings are skipped.
When to use it
E minor is the vi chord in G major, so it appears in progressions like G–D–Em–C (I–V–vi–IV). It suits rock, blues, and any progression that needs a minor lift. Pair it with G major and C major for the I–vi–IV–V loop.
Changing to and from E minor
- Move to G major by shifting the index and middle fingers to the A and D strings 2nd fret and adding the ring finger on the low E string 3rd fret.
- Move to A minor by lifting the middle finger and placing the index on the B string 1st fret while the middle stays on the D string 2nd fret.
Which voicing to use
The open position gives the root E in the bass and is the easiest to grab. The 7th fret barre shape repeats the same voicing an octave higher, while the Emin/G inversion puts G in the bass for a darker, less stable sound.
Other E chords
Common questions
How is E minor written?
E minor is written Em, Emin, E−, or Emi. The root is E, and no enharmonic spelling is used.
What is the difference between E minor and E major?
E minor lowers the third from G♯ to G. That single note changes the chord from major to minor and gives it a sadder quality.
Why does E minor sound so full?
E minor uses all six strings, with three open strings and two fretted notes. The open strings ring sympathetically and give the chord a rich, resonant sound.
Can E minor be played as a barre chord?
Yes, the 7th fret barre shape is E minor with the root on the A string. It is useful when you need a higher register or a consistent barre progression.