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E minor seventh chord (Em7)

E minor seventh is a 4-note minor seventh chord: E – G – B – D. It sounds relaxed, warm and a little melancholic. Here it is on guitar, piano and ukulele, with fingering and audio.

  • NotesE – G – B – D
  • Formula1 – ♭3 – 5 – ♭7
  • SymbolEm7 · Emin7 · E-7
  • TypeMinor seventh chord

E minor seventh on guitar

  • 2EBDGBE
    Open position
  • 7×13121EBDGB
    Barre at fret 7 (A shape)

How to place your fingers (open position)

  1. Finger 2 (middle) on fret 2 of string 5 (A).
  2. The 6th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st strings are played open.

The numbers inside the dots are the fingers of your left hand: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring and 4 pinky. The colored dots mark the root (E). The other positions let you change chords without jumping along the neck, or give you a higher-pitched sound.

E minor seventh on piano

EGBD

In root position, play E – G – B – D from bottom to top with fingers 1, 2, 3 and 5 of your right hand. With your left hand you usually play just the root (E) or the root and the fifth.

Inversions

  • First inversion: G – B – D – E
  • Second inversion: B – D – E – G
  • Third inversion: D – E – G – B

E minor seventh on ukulele

  • GDEB
    Open position
  • 3BEGD
    From fret 3

Standard tuning G – C – E – A (the G string is the high one). Is your ukulele in tune? Use the ukulele tuner.

Notes and intervals of E minor seventh

  • E1 · root
  • G♭3 · minor third
  • B5 · perfect fifth
  • D♭7 · minor seventh

It's the second degree of the jazz ii–V–I progression and shows up in salsa, funk, neo soul and pop.

Progressions with Em7

The ii–V–I: ii7 – V7 – Imaj7

Em7 is the second degree of D major.

Two-chord vamp: i7 – IV7

A typical funk, soul and salsa groove.

Which keys contain E minor seventh?

Em7 belongs to 6 keys: in each one it plays a different role depending on the degree (the Roman numeral).

KeyDegree
C majoriii7
D majorii7
G majorvi7
E natural minori7
A natural minorv7
B natural minoriv7

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the E minor seventh chord?

E minor seventh (Em7) has 4 notes: E (root), G (minor third), B (perfect fifth), D (minor seventh).

How do you play E minor seventh on guitar?

The easiest shape is in open position: 0 2 0 0 0 0 (from the 6th to the 1st string). Place finger 2 (middle) on fret 2 of the 5th string (A). Play the 6th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st strings open.

How do you write E minor seventh in chord notation?

It is written Em7; you may also see Emin7 or E-7. Chord notation uses letters for notes: C, D, E, F, G, A, and B.

Want to play whole songs?

A teacher shows you how to change chords smoothly, strum and play along to your favorite songs, in online lessons or at home in Bogotá.

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