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

E minor guitar shapes

Popular fretboard positions with fingering suggestions

Showing 8 of 355 playable shapes

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E minor guitar chord diagram showing fretboard positions

About the chord

E minor guitar chord

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

The E minor minor chord, composed of the root (E minor), minor third G, and perfect fifth B, evokes a melancholic or introspective emotion. The lowered third G gives it a somber, contemplative quality, contrasting with the major chord’s brightness, and is often used to express depth and emotional complexity.

Also written as Emin.

Root note: E
Quality: minor
Chord tones: 3
Playable shapes: 355

Chord tones

EGB

Common guitar voicings

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

Shape 022000

022000

View 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 Let the sixth, third, second, and first strings ring open.
  4. 4 Strum from the 6th string down.

Shape xx2000

xx2000

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string.
  2. 2 Let the third, second, and first strings ring open.
  3. 3 Strum from the 4th 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.

Shape details

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

E minor shape 022000

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 Let the sixth, third, second, and first strings ring open
  4. 4 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

E minor shape xx2000

How to play this shape

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

E minor shape 022003

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 1st string
  4. 4 Let the sixth, third, and second strings ring open
  5. 5 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

E minor shape xx2003

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 1st string
  3. 3 Let the third and second 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 shape 022403

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 1st string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 4th fret of the 3rd string
  5. 5 Let the sixth and second strings ring open
  6. 6 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

E minor shape xx2403

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 1st string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 4th fret of the 3rd string
  4. 4 Let the second 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 shape 075000

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string
  2. 2 Place the 3rd finger on the 7th fret of the 5th string
  3. 3 Let the sixth, third, second, and first strings ring open
  4. 4 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

E minor shape x75000

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string
  2. 2 Place the 3rd finger on the 7th fret of the 5th string
  3. 3 Let the third, second, and first strings ring open
  4. 4 Do not play the sixth string
  5. 5 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

Quick answers

What notes are in Em?

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

What is another name for Em?

Em is also written as Emin.

How do you play Em on guitar?

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

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