Chord chart

Em Chord on Guitar: 3 Easy Ways to Play E Minor (Charts)

Em chord charts with finger numbers, an easier version, the notes and intervals, and the keys and progressions that use it. Also searched as em chord, em guitar chord and how to play Em.

By David Sandy, guitar player and founder of Sandy Music Lab. Every chord shape on this page is checked note by note against the chord's formula.

Em chord diagram, Open positionEm Open position: low E open, A fret 2, D fret 2, G open, B open, high e open.120 2 2 0 0 0
Open position
0 2 2 0 0 0
Em chord diagram, Barre (7th fret, A-string root)Em Barre (7th fret, A-string root): low E muted, A fret 7, D fret 9, G fret 9, B fret 8, high e fret 7.7fr×1342x 7 9 9 8 7
Barre (7th fret, A-string root)
x 7 9 9 8 7
Em chord diagram, Easy 4-string versionEm Easy 4-string version: low E muted, A muted, D fret 2, G open, B open, high e open.××1x x 2 0 0 0
Easy 4-string version
x x 2 0 0 0

Numbers are fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky, T thumb). × = don't play that string, ○ = play it open. A long bar is a barre: one finger flat across those strings. Strings run low E (left) to high e (right).

Chord chart by Sandy Music Lab

Quick answer: To play Em (E minor) on guitar, play 0 2 2 0 0 0 from the low E string to the high e string (the open position shape). The chord contains E, G, B. If that is hard, use the easier shape x x 2 0 0 0, which needs 1 fretted note.

Em chord facts

Chord Em (E minor)
Other names Emin, E-
Notes E, G, B
Intervals E (root), G (minor 3rd), B (perfect 5th)
Formula 1-b3-5
Difficulty Beginner
Shapes on this page 3

How do you play Em on guitar?

The main shape is 0 2 2 0 0 0 (Open position). Finger by finger:

  1. Put your index finger (1) on the A string at fret 2 (B, the perfect 5th).
  2. Put your middle finger (2) on the D string at fret 2 (E, the root).
  4. Let the low E (E) and G (G) and B (B) and high e (E) strings ring open.
  5. Strum, then pick each string one at a time and fix any string that buzzes or is silent.

What is the easiest way to play Em?

The easier version is x x 2 0 0 0 (Easy 4-string version). It keeps the sound of Em with less effort and no barre.