The Em chord is E minor, a three-note chord built from E, G, and B. On guitar, the easiest version takes just two fingers on the 2nd fret. You fret the 5th and 4th strings and strum all six.
That open shape is only the start. Below you’ll find five charted voicings, two barre shapes, and the theory that ties them together. You’ll also get progressions, practice habits, and the mistakes worth avoiding.
Notes in every E minor chord
3E, G, and B, whichever shape you play
What Notes Are in E Minor?
A minor triad stacks two thirds on its root. From E up to G is a minor third, three half steps. From G up to B is a major third, four half steps. Together, E and B form a perfect fifth.
The name follows lead-sheet shorthand: an uppercase root plus a lowercase “m” for minor. E minor is also the relative minor of G major, which sits three half steps above E. Both keys share one sharp, F♯, so Em and G sound natural side by side.
How to Play the Open Em Chord
Learn this version first, since it needs no barre and uses four open strings. Everything happens on the 2nd fret, right below the nut:
- Place your 1st finger on the 5th string, 2nd fret
- Place your 2nd finger on the 4th string, 2nd fret
- Play strings 1, 2, 3, and 6 open
This shape holds three Es, two Bs, and one G, with the root on the bottom. Many guides use the 2nd and 3rd fingers instead. Either works, so pick the one that makes your next chord change easier.
If you already know E major, you’re one step away. Guitar World’s beginner lesson puts it simply:
E minor is even easier: take the same shape you just used for E major, and remove your first finger. That’s it!
Jenna Scaramanga, writing for Guitar World
Two More Open Em Shapes
Once the basic shape rings clearly, try these two twists. Both keep the open low E as the root but change the top of the chord.
Em Alternate #1: Add a High G
This variation swaps the open high E for a G, giving the chord a sweeter top note:
- Place your 1st finger on the 5th string, 2nd fret
- Place your 2nd finger on the 4th string, 2nd fret
- Place your 3rd finger on the 1st string, 3rd fret
- Play strings 2, 3, and 6 open
Now the G, the note that makes the chord minor, sits on top. Try switching between this shape and the basic one to add movement to a simple strum.
Em Alternate #2: The Four-Finger Stretch
This one uses every fretting finger and a small barre across two strings:
- Use your 1st finger to cover strings 4 and 5 on the 2nd fret
- Place your 2nd finger on the 1st string, 3rd fret
- Place your 3rd finger on the 3rd string, 4th fret
- Place your 4th finger on the 2nd string, 5th fret
- Play string 6 open
Expect this shape to take longer, because it spans four frets. Keep your thumb low on the back of the neck to give your pinky the reach it needs.
How to Play Em as a Barre Chord
Barre chords use no open strings, so you can slide them anywhere on the neck. E minor has two popular barre shapes, one at the 7th fret and one at the 12th.
The 7th-Fret Barre: A-Minor Shape
This Em bar chord is the open A minor shape moved up seven frets. In the chart, the top line marks the 5th fret, so the barre sits on the 7th:
- Use your 1st finger to barre the strings at the 7th fret
- Place your 2nd finger on the 2nd string, 8th fret
- Place your 3rd finger on the 4th string, 9th fret
- Place your 4th finger on the 3rd string, 9th fret
- Mute string 6
The root now sits on the 5th string, so keep the low string silent. The tip of your barre finger can touch it lightly to mute it. For a fuller sound, you can let the open low E ring under the barre instead.
The 12th-Fret Barre: E-Minor Shape
The 12th fret is one octave above the open strings. So the open Em shape, played with a full barre there, gives you the same chord an octave higher.
- Use your 1st finger to barre all six strings at the 12th fret
- Place your 3rd finger on the 5th string, 14th fret
- Place your 4th finger on the 4th string, 14th fret
On a guitar without a cutaway, that barre can be hard to reach. Play only the top three strings at the 12th fret instead. That gives you G, B, and E, with G as the lowest note.
A Brighter Em Voicing at the 9th Fret
If you want a high E minor without a barre, this shape pairs fretted notes with two open strings. The chart starts at the 8th fret, and your 1st finger lands on the 9th:
- Place your 1st finger on the 4th string, 9th fret
- Place your 2nd finger on the 5th string, 10th fret
- Place your 3rd finger on the 6th string, 12th fret
- Place your 4th finger on the 3rd string, 12th fret
- Play strings 1 and 2 open
It’s a real stretch at first, but the open B and E strings give it a bright, ringing sound. It works well when a second guitarist is already playing the open shape.
Chord Progressions in E Minor
A few progressions turn a chord shape into music. In the key of E minor, the natural chords are Em, F♯dim, G, Am, Bm, C, and D. Raising the seventh note turns Bm into B major, which pulls strongly back home to Em.
- Em – C – G – D: a rotation of the pop “best-seller” progression, with Em as the vi chord of G major
- Em – D – C – D: the i–VII–VI–VII pattern behind “Stairway to Heaven,” moved to E minor
- Em – D – C – B: the Andalusian progression, with a descending bass line rooted in flamenco
The first uses the same four chords as many major-key hits, just starting on Em. That’s why it can sound hopeful and wistful at once.
How to Practice the E Minor Chord
Clean chords come from short, regular sessions rather than rare marathons. Martin Guitar recommends practicing “little and often” for exactly that reason. Keep your thumb on the back of the neck for leverage.
Press each string just behind the fret wire, not on top of it. Then strum the chord and pick each string one at a time to check that all six ring.
beenherePractice tipFret Em with your 2nd and 3rd fingers, then move both down one string and add your 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string. That is A minor, so one small move links two chords you’ll use constantly.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Most problems with E minor come from a few small habits, and each one is quick to fix.
- Muting the 3rd string: arch your fingers so the one on the 4th string clears the open G
- Fretting on the wire: it causes buzzing, so aim just behind the fret instead
- Skipping the low E: the open shape sounds best with all six strings, root on the bottom
- Letting string 6 ring on the 7th-fret barre: it puts B in the bass and blurs the chord
- Squeezing too hard: use just enough pressure for a clear note, then relax
Related Chords to Learn Next
E minor opens the door to several chords that share its notes or its shape.
- G major: the relative major, sharing two of Em’s three notes
- E major: add your 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 3rd string to raise G to G♯
- Em7: lift the finger off the 4th string of the open shape to add D, a third above B
- Am and Bm: the other minor chords in the key of E minor
Sources
- "Learn 5 Ways to Play E Minor | Chord by Chord," Kate Koenig, Acoustic Guitar, 2020. Available at: https://acousticguitar.com/learn-5-ways-to-play-e-minor-chord-by-chord/. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
- "How to Play the E Chord on Guitar," Jenna Scaramanga, Guitar World, 2021. Available at: https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/beginner-lessons/play-your-first-chord. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
- "Section 6.1 Introduction to Triads," Robert Hutchinson, Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom, University of Puget Sound. Available at: https://musictheory.pugetsound.edu/mt21c/TriadsIntroduction.html. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
- "Section 6.2 Lead-Sheet Symbols," Robert Hutchinson, Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom, University of Puget Sound. Available at: https://musictheory.pugetsound.edu/mt21c/LeadSheetSymbols.html. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
- "Section 6.3 Inverted Triads," Robert Hutchinson, Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom, University of Puget Sound. Available at: https://musictheory.pugetsound.edu/mt21c/InvertedTriads.html. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
- "Section 6.6 Summary," Robert Hutchinson, Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom, University of Puget Sound. Available at: https://musictheory.pugetsound.edu/mt21c/SummaryOfTriadConstruction.html. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
- "Section 2.3 Major Key Signatures," Robert Hutchinson, Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom, University of Puget Sound. Available at: https://musictheory.pugetsound.edu/mt21c/MajorKeySignatures.html. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
- "Section 3.2 Minor Key Signatures," Robert Hutchinson, Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom, University of Puget Sound. Available at: https://musictheory.pugetsound.edu/mt21c/MinorKeySignatures.html. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
- "Section 7.3 Diatonic Chords in Minor," Robert Hutchinson, Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom, University of Puget Sound. Available at: https://musictheory.pugetsound.edu/mt21c/DiatonicChordsInMinor.html. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
- "Section 8.1 Introduction to Seventh Chords," Robert Hutchinson, Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom, University of Puget Sound. Available at: https://musictheory.pugetsound.edu/mt21c/SeventhChordsIntroduction.html. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
- "Section 9.7 The Best-Seller Progression," Robert Hutchinson, Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom, University of Puget Sound. Available at: https://musictheory.pugetsound.edu/mt21c/BestsellerProgression.html. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
- "Section 9.8 The i–VII–VI–VII Progression," Robert Hutchinson, Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom, University of Puget Sound. Available at: https://musictheory.pugetsound.edu/mt21c/i-VII-VI-VII.html. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
- "Acoustic Guitar Playing Guide," Martin Guitar, 2023. Available at: https://www.martinguitar.com/blog-categories/tips-tutorials/blog-032723-acoustic-guitar-playing-guide.html. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
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