E Minor 7th Guitar Chord (Em7)
E minor 7th is a four-note chord built from E (the root), G (the minor third), B (the perfect fifth), and D (the minor seventh). It blends minor-key melancholy with seventh-chord smoothness ā think slow-jam ballads, bossa novas, and late-night jazz comping. Below are 4 ways to play it in standard tuning, easiest shape first.
Em7 chord shapes ā standard tuning
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.
Once that shape is comfortable, try the other 3 voicings above ā same notes, different neck positions and textures.
Notes in this chord
| Symbol | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| R | root | E |
| ā3 | minor third | G |
| 5 | perfect fifth | B |
| ā7 | minor seventh | D |
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 ā 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 ā 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.