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E minor 7th chord on ukulele (Em7)
Also called or written Em7 or Emin7
E minor 7th contains E, G, B, and D. The 9th-fret grip stretches the pinky to the 11th fret while the other fingers hold the 10th fret.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7
- Root positionE–G–B–DEm74-4-3-5
- First inversionG–B–D–EEm7/G7-7-7-7
- Second inversionB–D–E–GEm7/B9-11-10-10
- Third inversionD–E–G–BEm7/D0-2-0-2
How do you play an E minor 7th chord on ukulele?
E minor 7th is played at the 9th fret as 9 11 10 10: index finger on the G string at fret 9, pinky finger on the C string at fret 11, middle finger on the E string at fret 10 and ring finger on the A string at fret 10.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 9 | 1 | E (1) |
| 3 (C) | 11 | 4 | B (5) |
| 2 (E) | 10 | 2 | D (♭7) |
| 1 (A) | 10 | 3 | G (♭3) |
AdvancedThe pinky must stretch to the 11th fret on the C string while the middle and ring fingers hold the 10th fret, risking a muted E string.
Em7/D inversion
E minor 7th is played in open position as 0 2 0 2: index finger on the C string at fret 2 and middle finger on the A string at fret 2. The G and E strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | G (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 2 | 1 | D (♭7) |
| 2 (E) | open | — | E (1) |
| 1 (A) | 2 | 2 | B (5) |
3rd fret
E minor 7th is played at the 3rd fret as 4 4 3 5: middle finger on the G string at fret 4, ring finger on the C string at fret 4, index finger on the E string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 5.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 4 | 2 | B (5) |
| 3 (C) | 4 | 3 | E (1) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 1 | G (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | 5 | 4 | D (♭7) |
Em7/G inversion
E minor 7th is played at the 7th fret as 7 7 7 7: barre your index finger across fret 7.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 7 | 1 (barre) | D (♭7) |
| 3 (C) | 7 | 1 (barre) | G (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 7 | 1 (barre) | B (5) |
| 1 (A) | 7 | 1 (barre) | E (1) |
Why it sounds like that
E minor 7th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7. The minor 3rd between E and G gives the chord its minor quality, and the minor 7th D adds a mellow tension. Compare it to E minor, which omits the 7th.
What goes wrong with E minor 7th?
- Letting the pinky collapse onto the E string, muting it.
- Pressing the index finger too flat, which can buzz the G string.
- Rushing the stretch so the C string note sounds sharp.
When to use it
E minor 7th works as the vi chord in G major, appearing in the progression G major–D major–E minor–C major (I–V–vi–IV). It suits rock and pop. Try it with E minor and G major.
Changing to and from E minor 7th
- Move to F minor 7th by sliding the shape up one fret to the 10th fret.
- From E minor 7th, slide down one fret to the 8th fret for E♭ minor 7th.
Which voicing to use
The 9th-fret voicing keeps E in the bass for a grounded sound. The Em7/G inversion at the open position puts G in the bass, softening the chord. For a brighter top, use the Em7/B inversion at the 4th fret.
Other E chords
Common questions
How is E minor 7th written?
E minor 7th is written Emin7 or Em7.
Why does the 9th-fret voicing feel so stretched?
The stretch comes from the pinky reaching the 11th fret on the C string while the other fingers stay near the 9th and 10th frets. Practicing the shape slowly helps the hand adapt.
How does E minor 7th differ from E minor?
E minor 7th adds the note D, a minor 7th above the root. This extra note creates a softer, more complex sound than the plain triad.