Also written Em7 or Emin7
E minor 7th contains E, G, B, and D. The default voicing uses two open strings and two fretted notes, making it one of the easier minor 7th grips.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
E minor 7th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7. The minor 7th interval from E to D gives the chord its relaxed, airy quality. Compare it to E minor, which omits the D and sounds more plain.
E minor 7th functions as the vi chord in G major, appearing in progressions like G–D–E minor–C (I–V–vi–IV). Its open, gentle sound fits folk, pop, and ballads.
The Em7/D inversion at the 2nd fret has D in the bass, giving a soft, inverted feel. The 3rd fret voicing has E in the bass, providing a more grounded root position.
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.
Tip — The index and middle fingers must fret the 2nd fret on adjacent strings without touching the open G and E strings.
| 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) |
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.
| 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) |
E minor 7th is played at the 7th fret as 7 7 7 7: barre your index finger across fret 7.
| 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) |
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.
| 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) |
E minor 7th is played in open position as 0 4 7 5: index finger on the C string at fret 4, ring finger on the E string at fret 7 and middle finger on the A string at fret 5. The G string rings open.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | G (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 4 | 1 | E (1) |
| 2 (E) | 7 | 3 | B (5) |
| 1 (A) | 5 | 2 | D (♭7) |
E minor 7th is written as Emin7 or Em7.
E minor 7th adds the minor 7th note D to the E minor triad. This gives the chord a more open, jazzy sound.
Yes, the Em7/G inversion at the 7th fret uses a full barre across all four strings. The default voicing does not use a barre.