Home E chords for guitar E Minor Guitar Chord

E Minor Guitar Chord

A chord with a sad, melancholic character. Differs from major by its lowered third. Used across all genres for emotional expression — from ballads through rock to jazz.

Guitar

Strings 0–2–2–0–0–0

How to play the E Minor chord on guitar

Read the string pattern 0–2–2–0–0–0 from the low E string to the high E string. Numbers in the pattern are frets; numbers in the colored dots are left-hand fingers. X means a muted string and 0 means an open string.

6th string (low E) Play open
5th string (A) Fret 2 · middle finger
4th string (D) Fret 2 · ring finger
3rd string (G) Play open
2nd string (B) Play open
1st string (high E) Play open

Notation for Em chord

Other names: E minor, E min, E-

Music theory name: minor triad

Common name: E minor chord

Intervals and tones in Em chord

Note Interval
E Root
G Minor 3rd
H Perfect 5th

All Variations

Open
0–2–2–0–0–0
Fret 2
0–2–2–4–5–3
Fret 7
X–7–9–9–8–7
Fret 9
12–10–9–9–X–X

Songs using Em