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Chord chart for Em7 Guitar Chord (E minor 7th): Notes, Shapes & How to Play | Guitar Wiz

E minor 7th guitar shapes

Popular fretboard positions with fingering suggestions

Showing 8 of 664 playable shapes

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E minor 7th guitar chord diagram showing fretboard positions

About the chord

E minor 7th guitar chord

Em7 is the E minor 7th guitar chord. It uses the notes E, G, B, and D and the interval formula 1-♭3-5-♭7.

The E minor 7th minor 7th chord, blending the minor triad with a minor seventh D, deepens the emotional resonance of the minor tonality. The combination of the minor third G and minor seventh D gives it a smooth, jazzy character, frequently used in blues, soul, and jazz.

Also written as Emin7.

Root note: E
Quality: minor 7th
Chord tones: 4
Playable shapes: 664

Chord tones

EGBD

Common guitar voicings

These are quick-start shapes for players who want the answer first and the deeper theory second.

Shape 020000

020000

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 5th string.
  2. 2 Let the sixth, fourth, third, second, and first strings ring open.
  3. 3 Strum from the 6th string down.

Shape 020030

020030

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 5th string.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string.
  3. 3 Let the sixth, fourth, third, and first strings ring open.
  4. 4 Strum from the 6th string down.

Notes & Intervals

Each note below shows how the chord is built from its root. This is the theory layer underneath the fretboard shapes.

E Unison (Root) 1

The root anchors the chord and defines its tonal center.

G Minor Third ♭3

This note supplies the minor color and gives the chord its darker emotional pull.

B Perfect Fifth 5

The fifth reinforces stability and gives the chord its strong harmonic frame.

D Minor Seventh ♭7

The minor seventh adds bluesy or jazzy tension that wants to move onward.

Shape details

Every shape is shown with its diagram and exact fingering instructions.

E minor 7th shape 020000

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Let the sixth, fourth, third, second, and first strings ring open
  3. 3 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

E minor 7th shape 020030

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string
  3. 3 Let the sixth, fourth, third, and first strings ring open
  4. 4 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

E minor 7th shape 022030

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string
  4. 4 Let the sixth, third, and first strings ring open
  5. 5 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

E minor 7th shape xx2030

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string
  3. 3 Let the third and first strings ring open
  4. 4 Do not play the sixth and fifth strings
  5. 5 Strum from the fourth string down to the first string

E minor 7th shape 020003

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string
  3. 3 Let the sixth, fourth, third, and second strings ring open
  4. 4 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

E minor 7th shape 020033

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string
  4. 4 Let the sixth, fourth, and third strings ring open
  5. 5 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

E minor 7th shape xx2033

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string
  4. 4 Let the third string ring open
  5. 5 Do not play the sixth and fifth strings
  6. 6 Strum from the fourth string down to the first string

E minor 7th shape 020403

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 4th fret of the 3rd string
  4. 4 Let the sixth, fourth, and second strings ring open
  5. 5 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

Quick answers

What notes are in Em7?

Em7 uses the notes E, G, B, and D. Its interval formula is 1-♭3-5-♭7.

What is another name for Em7?

Em7 is also written as Emin7.

How do you play Em7 on guitar?

Place the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 5th string. Let the sixth, fourth, third, second, and first strings ring open. Strum from the 6th string down.

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