Em chord on guitar

Em is the E minor chord, made of the notes E G B. Most guitarists play it as 0 2 2 0 0 0, an open chord. Below are all 5 ways to hold Em on the guitar, from the lowest on the neck to the highest, and the same chord in Drop D and DADGAD. The TabTunix app plays each one. Check out our full chord library.

Show

1fr12
Em

0 2 2 0 0 0

Notes

Degrees: R b3 5. Notes: E G B.

Tuning

Inversions

Voicings

How to play Em

The shape most players use is 0 2 2 0 0 0, from the lowest string to the highest. Hold it like this:

  1. Put your index finger on the A string at fret 2.
  2. Put your middle finger on the D string at fret 2.
  3. Let the low E, G, B and high E strings ring open.
1fr12
Em
0 2 2 0 0 0

5 ways to play Em

Every shape the chord library holds for Em in standard tuning, from low on the neck to high. In each one E is the lowest note; they differ in where your hand sits and in which strings ring.

More shapes, for every chord: all guitar chords.

  • 1fr12
    Em
    0 2 2 0 0 0
    open shape
  • 2fr1342
    Em
    X X 2 4 5 3
    closed shape at fret 2
  • 7fr342
    Em
    X 7 9 9 8 7
    barre at fret 7
  • 9fr42
    Em
    12 10 9 9 X X
    barre at fret 9
  • 12fr34
    Em
    12 14 14 12 12 12
    barre at fret 12

The notes in Em

Rb35
EGB

A minor chord is the root, the minor third and the fifth: R b3 5.

Put another of its notes in the bass and Em becomes an inversion, written with a slash: Em/G and Em/B. Below, the first shape of each.

  • 1fr312
    Em/G
    3 2 2 0 0 0
  • 1fr12
    Em/B
    X 2 2 0 0 0

Keys and progressions with Em

Em is one of the chords of these keys, with its number in each. The chords of a key are the chords built on the notes of its scale.

  • iii in C major
  • ii in D major
  • vi in G major
  • i in E minor
  • v in A minor
  • iv in B minor

It stands in these chord progressions of the app, in the key each opens in:

  • Pop Axis in G major: G, D, Em, C
  • Pop Axis from vi in G major: Em, C, G, D
  • Phrygian Vamp in E minor: Em, F

Em in Drop D, Drop C, Drop B and DADGAD

  • In Drop D, Em is 2 2 2 0 0 0, where Standard has 0 2 2 0 0 0.
  • In Drop C, Em is 4 4 4 2 2 2, where Standard has 0 2 2 0 0 0.
  • In Drop B, Em is 5 5 5 3 3 3, where Standard has 0 2 2 0 0 0.
  • In DADGAD, Em is 2 2 2 0 2 X, where Standard has 0 2 2 0 0 0.

More on each tuning: Drop D, Drop C, Drop B and DADGAD, all under guitar tunings.

  • 1fr123
    Em in Drop D
    2 2 2 0 0 0
  • 1fr234
    Em in Drop C
    4 4 4 2 2 2
  • 3fr234
    Em in Drop B
    5 5 5 3 3 3
  • 1fr1234
    Em in DADGAD
    2 2 2 0 2 X

Get the change up to tempo

A chord is yours when you can change to it in time. In TabTunix, put Em and the chord before it into a chord-change exercise, set a target tempo, and play the change to a click that counts you through it. Rate each take, and the app keeps your best tempo, so you see it climb.

More on how to change chords faster.

Download for free

Questions about Em

E, G and B. As degrees they are R b3 5: the root, the minor third and the fifth.