E Minor
Open PositionThe classic open Em — just two fingers and all six strings ring. One of the easiest and most resonant chords on the guitar.
E Minor
7th Fret (Am-shape Barre)Am-shape barre at the 7th fret. A full five-string Em voicing with the root on the A string — great for mid-neck chord work.
E Minor
2nd Fret (4-String)Four-string Dm-shape voicing at the 2nd position. A compact Em sound using only the four inner strings — clean and focused.
E Minor
Open (Top 3 Strings)The open G, B, and e strings played together form an Em triad — G, B, and E. A simple three-string voicing useful for texture and arpeggios.
E Minor
7th Fret (Compact Triad)Compact three-note Em triad on the top strings at the 7th position. Bright and cutting — ideal for high-register chord stabs over a full band.
Tips for Playing the Em Chord
Only two fingers needed
Open Em requires just your middle and ring fingers on the A and D strings at the 2nd fret. All other strings ring open. This simplicity makes it one of the best first chords to teach new guitarists.
Em → E major in one move
To turn Em into E major, simply add your index finger to the G string at the 1st fret. Practicing this switch builds both chords and develops finger independence.
The vi chord in G major
Em is the relative minor of G major — they share the same notes. In the key of G, Em is the vi chord and appears in countless pop songs alongside G, C, and D.
Open top strings for texture
The open G, B, and e strings all belong to the Em chord. You can arpeggiate these open strings freely during Em passages for a natural, resonant sound without pressing any extra frets.
Am-shape barre at 7th fret
The Am-shape barre at the 7th fret produces the same Em chord in a higher register with the root on the A string. It is a valuable voicing for ensemble playing where the open Em might clash with other instruments.
Common progressions
Em → C → G → D is one of the most played progressions in rock and pop. Em → Am → D → G is another staple. In the key of E minor: Em → D → C → B creates a classic descending minor progression.
About the Em Chord on Guitar
The E minor chord is built from three notes: E (the root), G (the minor 3rd), and B (the perfect 5th). It is the relative minor of G major and has one of the most resonant open-string voicings on the guitar — all six strings can be strummed and only two fingers are needed. Em is frequently one of the very first chords a guitarist learns and remains essential at every level of playing. It appears as the vi chord in G major, the ii chord in D major, and the tonic of E natural minor. This page covers five practical voicings: the iconic open position, an Am-shape barre at the 7th fret, a four-string Dm-shape voicing, the open top-string triad, and a compact high-register triad. Every diagram is interactive with real acoustic guitar sound.
- 015 Em chord shapes from beginner to advanced
- 02Interactive diagrams — click Play to hear each chord
- 03Real acoustic guitar sound via audio engine
- 04Open position, Am-shape barre, and compact voicings
- 05Difficulty rating on every shape
- 06Free — no sign-up or download needed
ANATOMY
Chord Tones
The 3 notes that form the E Minor chord and their role in the major scale.
Every minor chord follows this same formula — root, minor third, perfect fifth.