How to play Em7: a minor 7th built on E, with 6 ways to play it, the notes, the keys it belongs to, and songs that use it.
The first diagram is a common voicing: an open-position shape using 3 open strings, played near the nut. An X above a string means don't play it; an O means play it open.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: 0 2 2 0 3 0 (x = not played).
| Note | E | G | B | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | R | b3 | 5 | b7 |
Em7 is a minor 7th with E as its root. The full theoretical spelling is E, G, B, D. This voicing sounds every chord tone.
Em7 is a diatonic chord (built from the key's own notes) in 3 major keys and 3 minor keys. The roman numeral is the chord's place in that key; tap a key for all of its chords.
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Em7 is spelled E, G, B, D: the root, minor 3rd, 5th, flat 7th. The common guitar voicing sounds every one of them.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: 0 2 2 0 3 0 (x means the string is not played). Lay your index finger across the 2nd fret from the A string to the D string (a barre). Add the B string at the 3rd fret. The low E, G and high E strings ring open. Strum all six strings.
Em7 belongs to 6 keys: D major (the ii chord), G major (the vi chord), C major (the iii chord), E minor (the i), B minor (the iv) and A minor (the v).
