Em7 Guitar Chord Explained
Welcome to our comprehensive guide on the E m7 chord, a beautiful addition to your guitar-playing repertoire. This intriguing chord, which belongs to the Minor Chords family, is composed of four distinct notes: E, G, B, and D. The intervals that construct this chord are 1, b3, 5, and b7, also known as the Root, Minor Third, Perfect Fifth, and Minor Seventh, respectively.
Understanding the intervals that make up a chord is crucial to mastering the fretboard and enhancing your musical knowledge. If you're new to the concept of intervals, you might find our tutorial on building chords by stacking intervals particularly useful.
In the following sections, we will provide detailed chord diagrams and fretboard patterns to visually represent the tones that compose the E m7 chord. This will not only help you understand the chord's structure but also how to play it effectively.
While the E m7 chord might appear complex, it's a common component in many jazz chord progressions, and mastering it can significantly enhance your versatility as a guitarist. If you're interested in exploring more advanced chords, check out our tutorial on intermediate guitar chords.
Remember, understanding and playing chords is an art that takes time and practice. So, don't rush. Take your time with the E m7 and enjoy the journey of musical discovery. Happy playing!
Notes that compose the E m7 chord:
Chord Formula:
E Minor Seventh Chord | Construction, Keys and Songs
We can see the E minor seventh chord like an E minor chord (E, G and B) with an additional note, D, that is a minor seventh from the root (10 half-steps).
Creating the Em7 chord is easy, just take the E minor scale:
E F# G A B C D
And select the first, third, fifth and seventh note. You get E, G, B and D.
It is a cool chord that you can play with a couple of really easy shapes, suitable for beginners.
For example, position 4 sounds beautiful and you only have to use one finger, on the 2nd fret of the A string.
Keys With The E Minor Seventh Chords
Here below we show the most common keys that contain the E Minor Seventh chord.
As this chord is composed of 4 notes (E, G, B and D) we use 4 tones harmonization tables.
C Major Key
In the C major key, you find the E m7 at the 3rd degree.
| C maj7 | D m7 | E m7 | F maj7 | G 7 | A m7 | B m7/b5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B (7) G (5) E (3) C (1) |
C (1) A (6) F (4) D (2) |
D (2) B (7) G (5) E (3) |
E (3) C (1) A (6) F (4) |
F (4) D (2) B (7) G (5) |
G (5) E (3) C (1) A (6) |
A (6) F (4) D (2) B (7) |
G Major Key
E m7 in the relative minor chord (6th) of the G major key.
| G maj7 | A m7 | B m7 | C maj7 | D 7 | E m7 | F# m7/b5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F# (7) D (5) B (3) G (1) |
G (1) E (6) C (4) A (2) |
A (2) F# (7) D (5) B (3) |
B (3) G (1) E (6) C (4) |
C (4) A (2) F# (7) D (5) |
D (5) B (3) G (1) E (6) |
E (6) C (4) A (2) F# (7) |
D Major Key
The 2nd chord of the D major key is our E m7.
| D maj7 | E m7 | F# m7 | G maj7 | A 7 | B m7 | C# m7/b5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C# (7) A (5) F# (3) D (1) |
D (1) B (6) G (4) E (2) |
E (2) C# (7) A (5) F# (3) |
F# (3) D (1) B (6) G (4) |
G (4) E (2) C# (7) A (5) |
A (5) F# (3) D (1) B (6) |
B (6) G (4) E (2) C# (7) |
Songs With E minor 7
There are tons of songs with the E minor 7 chord; on the guitar, this chord can be played with many open strings, so it has a really powerful sound.
Here are some popular songs that contain this chord:
- Grateful Dead: Shakedown Street
- Nat King Cole: Autumn Leaves
- Ben E. King: Stand By Me
- The Beatles: Yesterday
- Bob Marley: Redemption Song
Em7 - Practice And Playing Tips
Here are a few more suggestions that will help you with this chord.
- Finger Placement: Ensure your fingers are curled and pressing down just behind the frets to avoid buzzing sounds.
- Strumming: You can use shapes with all six strings for a full, resonant sound.
- Hand Position: Keep your wrist relaxed and slightly bent to easily reach the frets.
- Chord Transitions: Practice switching between Em7 and other chords like G, D, or C to enhance muscle memory.
- Use in Songs: Incorporate Em7 into songs you know, especially those in genres like folk, rock, or blues, to appreciate its versatile nature.
E Minor Seventh Guitar Chord Shapes
Chord boxes are sorted from the easiest to the hardest. Learn how to read chord diagrams.
If you have difficulties with bar chord shapes, check the Bar Chords Tips tutorial.
You can also use this accessible chords page with written diagrams instruction.
Position 1
Movable
Position 2
Movable
Position 3
Open
Position 4
Open
Position 5
Open
Position 6
Open
Position 7
Open
Position 8
Open
Position 9
Movable
Position 10
Movable
Position 11
Open
Position 12
Barre
Movable
Position 13
Open
Position 14
Barre
Movable
Position 15
Barre
Movable
Position 16
Barre
Movable
Position 17
Barre
Movable
Position 18
Barre
Movable
Position 19
Barre
Movable
Position 20
Barre
Open
Position 21
Barre
Movable
You can find more shapes in our all guitar chords online library. If you
prefer a printable pdf, download
the Free Guitar Chords Chart Pdf
FAQ
What notes and intervals make up an Em7 chord?
The Em7 chord is composed of the notes E, G, B, and D. These correspond to the intervals of the Root (1), Minor Third (b3), Perfect Fifth (5), and Minor Seventh (b7) respectively.
How is the Em7 chord constructed from a scale?
To construct the Em7 chord, you can take the E minor scale (E F# G A B C D) and select the first, third, fifth, and seventh notes from it. This yields E, G, B, and D.
In which musical keys can I expect to find the Em7 chord?
The Em7 chord appears in several major keys. It is the 3rd degree chord in C Major, the 6th degree chord (relative minor) in G Major, and the 2nd degree chord in D Major. It is also a common component in jazz chord progressions.
Are there easy ways for beginners to play the Em7 chord?
Yes, the Em7 chord offers several easy shapes suitable for beginners. For example, there's a simple shape in 'position 4' that only requires one finger on the 2nd fret of the A string, allowing you to play the chord with many open strings for a full sound.
What are some practical tips for practicing and playing the Em7 chord effectively?
For effective practice, ensure your fingers are curled and pressed just behind the frets to avoid buzzing. Keep your wrist relaxed, practice transitioning between Em7 and common chords like G, D, or C to build muscle memory, and incorporate it into songs to understand its versatile nature.
How does an Em7 chord differ from a standard E minor chord?
An Em7 chord extends a standard E minor chord. An E minor chord consists of E, G, and B (Root, Minor Third, Perfect Fifth). The Em7 adds one more note, D, which is the minor seventh interval (b7) from the root E.