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E Minor 7th Guitar Chord (Em7)

Em7 is one finger, 020000. All six strings, one fretted note. Arguably the laziest full-sounding chord on the instrument.

Em7 arrives already baked.

Em7 chord shapes in standard tuning

○ open string × muted / not played 1–4 suggested finger 3fr shape starts at fret 3 R · 3 · 5 · ♭7 chord tone each string sounds
Em7 guitar chord diagram, Open position, frets 0-2-0-0-0-0R15♭7♭35R
Open position
0-2-0-0-0-0
Em7 guitar chord diagram, Barre · 5fr, frets x-7-5-7-5-75fr×2R1♭33♭7R45
Barre · 5fr
x-7-5-7-5-7
Em7 guitar chord diagram, Barre · 7fr, frets x-7-9-7-8-77fr×1R35♭72♭35
Barre · 7fr
x-7-9-7-8-7
Em7 guitar chord diagram, Barre · 12fr, frets 12-14-12-12-12-1212fr1R25♭7♭35R
Barre · 12fr
12-14-12-12-12-12

How to play it

Place your index finger on the A (5th) string at fret 2. Let the low E (6th), D (4th), G (3rd), B (2nd), and high E (1st) strings ring open. Strum all six strings.

Notes in this chord

SymbolIntervalNote
RrootE
♭3minor thirdG
5perfect fifthB
♭7minor seventhD

Keep exploring

Other tunings

Open the interactive chord charts to see Em7 in open G, drop D, DADGAD, and more tunings.

More E chords

Nearby minor 7th chords

Em7 FAQ

What notes are in Em7?
Em7 contains E, G, B, and D. That's the root (E), the minor third, the perfect fifth, and the minor seventh.

Is Em7 a barre chord?
Not necessarily. The easiest Em7 shape (0-2-0-0-0-0) needs no barre. It uses 1 finger plus open strings. Barre versions exist too, starting at fret 5, and are handy when you want to move the same grip to other keys.

What is the easiest way to play Em7 on guitar?
Start with the open position shape 0-2-0-0-0-0. Place your index finger on the A (5th) string at fret 2. Let the low E (6th), D (4th), G (3rd), B (2nd), and high E (1st) strings ring open. Strum all six strings.