Chords › E minor

E Minor Chord on Guitar

23

Open Em. Two fingers and all six strings. Many players use index and middle instead of middle and ring.

The E minor chord, written Em, needs only two fingers and rings on all six strings, which makes it the easiest full chord on guitar.

How to play Em, finger by finger

  1. Put your middle finger on string 5 at the 2nd fret.
  2. Put your ring finger on string 4 at the 2nd fret.
  3. Strum all six strings.

More ways to play Em

7fr1342
A-shape barre from fret 7
1
Open, fret 2 near the nut
3fr31
Open, fret 3 from fret 3
4fr4213
Movable, fret 4 from fret 4
5fr3124
Movable, fret 5 from fret 5
7fr1342
Movable, fret 7 from fret 7
9fr4312
Movable, fret 9 from fret 9
12fr1341
Barre, fret 12 from fret 12

Notes in E minor

NoteIntervalRole
E1root
G♭3minor third
B5fifth

Formula: 1 – ♭3 – 5

Questions about Em

Is Em the easiest guitar chord?

It is usually the first one people learn: two fingers on the 2nd fret and every string strummed.

Often played with Em

Other minor chords