Tools / Chords / E minor major 9th

E minor major 9th chord on guitar (EmMaj9)

Also written EmMaj9, Eminmaj9 or EmM9

E minor major 9th contains E, G, B, D♯ and F♯. The open voicing uses open strings and a ring-finger stretch to fret 2 on the high E.

Open0-2-1-0-0-2

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

E1Root

G♭3Minor 3rd

B5Perfect 5th

D♯7Major 7th

F♯99th

Formula 1, ♭3, 5, 7, 9

Positions on the neck1 of 5

Inversions

The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.

Root positionE–G–B–D♯–F♯EmMaj9Bass E

First inversionG–B–D♯–F♯–EEmMaj9/GBass G

Second inversionB–D♯–F♯–E–GEmMaj9/BBass B

Third inversionD♯–F♯–E–G–BEmMaj9/D♯Bass D♯

Fourth inversionF♯–E–G–B–D♯EmMaj9/F♯Bass F♯

Why it sounds like that

E minor major 9th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, 7, 9. The major 7th D♯ against the minor 3rd G creates the chord's characteristic tension. Compare it to E minor major 7th, which omits the 9th F♯.

What goes wrong with E minor major 9th?

Let the ring finger touch the B string, deadening the open B.
Allow the index finger to flatten onto the G string, causing a buzz on the open G.
Let the middle finger mute the D string, losing the F♯ at fret 1.

When to use it

Use E minor major 9th in place of E minor for a more complex color. It suits jazz ballads and film-score tension.

Changing to and from E minor major 9th

Move to E minor major 7th by lifting the ring finger off the high E string and letting it ring open.
Slide the 12th-fret barre voicing down two frets to the 10th fret for D minor major 9th.

Which voicing to use

The open voicing puts the root E in the bass via the low E string. The E minor major 9th/G inversion at the 2nd fret places G in the bass, softening the chord's bite. Choose the F♯ inversion when you want the 9th in the bass for a floating, unresolved feel.

How do you play an E minor major 9th chord on guitar?

Open

Beginner● On the diagram

E minor major 9th is played in open position as 0 2 1 0 0 2: middle finger on the A string at fret 2, index finger on the D string at fret 1 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 2. The low E, G and B strings ring open.

Tip — The ring finger must fret the high E string at fret 2 cleanly while the B and G strings ring open.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	open	—	E (1)
5 (A)	2	2	B (5)
4 (D)	1	1	D♯ (7)
3 (G)	open	—	G (♭3)
2 (B)	open	—	B (5)
1 (e)	2	3	F♯ (9)

12th fret

Barre

E minor major 9th is played at the 12th fret as 12 14 13 12 12 14: barre your index finger across fret 12, ring finger on the A string at fret 14, middle finger on the D string at fret 13 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 14.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	12	1 (barre)	E (1)
5 (A)	14	3	B (5)
4 (D)	13	2	D♯ (7)
3 (G)	12	1 (barre)	G (♭3)
2 (B)	12	1 (barre)	B (5)
1 (e)	14	4	F♯ (9)

Eminmaj9/G inversion

Barre

E minor major 9th is played at the 2nd fret as 3 2 2 4 4 2: barre your index finger across fret 2, middle finger on the low E string at fret 3, ring finger on the G string at fret 4 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 4.

String-by-string 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	3	B (5)
2 (B)	4	4	D♯ (7)
1 (e)	2	1 (barre)	F♯ (9)

Eminmaj9/F♯ inversion · open position

Beginner

E minor major 9th is played in open position as 2 2 1 0 0 0: middle finger on the low E string at fret 2, ring finger on the A string at fret 2 and index finger on the D string at fret 1. The G, B and high e strings ring open.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	2	2	F♯ (9)
5 (A)	2	3	B (5)
4 (D)	1	1	D♯ (7)
3 (G)	open	—	G (♭3)
2 (B)	open	—	B (5)
1 (e)	open	—	E (1)

Eminmaj9/F♯ inversion · fret 2

Barre

E minor major 9th is played at the 2nd fret as 2 2 2 4 4 3: barre your index finger across fret 2, ring finger on the G string at fret 4, pinky finger on the B string at fret 4 and middle finger on the high e string at fret 3.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	2	1 (barre)	F♯ (9)
5 (A)	2	1 (barre)	B (5)
4 (D)	2	1 (barre)	E (1)
3 (G)	4	3	B (5)
2 (B)	4	4	D♯ (7)
1 (e)	3	2	G (♭3)

Common questions

How is E minor major 9th written?

E minor major 9th is written EmM9, min(maj9), m(maj9), or Eminmaj9.

What is the difference between E minor major 9th and E minor add 9?

E minor add 9 contains E, G, B and F♯, omitting the major 7th D♯. E minor major 9th includes both the major 7th and the 9th, creating a denser, more dissonant sound.

Can E minor major 9th be used in a minor key?

E minor major 9th is the tonic chord in E harmonic minor and E melodic minor. It is not diatonic to E natural minor, which has a minor 7th D instead of D♯.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

open

—

E (1)

5 (A)

B (5)

4 (D)

D♯ (7)

3 (G)

open

—

G (♭3)

2 (B)

open

—

B (5)

1 (e)

F♯ (9)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

E (1)

5 (A)

B (5)

4 (D)

D♯ (7)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

G (♭3)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

B (5)

1 (e)

F♯ (9)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

G (♭3)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

B (5)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

E (1)

3 (G)

B (5)

2 (B)

D♯ (7)

1 (e)

1 (barre)

F♯ (9)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

F♯ (9)

5 (A)

B (5)

4 (D)

D♯ (7)

3 (G)

open

—

G (♭3)

2 (B)

open

—

B (5)

1 (e)

open

—

E (1)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

F♯ (9)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

B (5)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

E (1)

3 (G)

B (5)

2 (B)

D♯ (7)

1 (e)

G (♭3)