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Em/A 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. This is a slash chord — the bass note is A instead of the root.

Guitar

Strings X–0–2–0–0–0

How to play the Em/A chord on guitar

Read the string pattern X–0–2–0–0–0 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) Do not play
5th string (A) Play open
4th string (D) Fret 2 · index finger
3rd string (G) Play open
2nd string (B) Play open
1st string (high E) Play open

Notation for Em/A chord

Other names: E minor, E min, E-

Music theory name: minor triad

Common name: E minor chord

Intervals and tones in Em/A chord

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

All Variations

Open
X–0–2–0–0–0
Open
X–0–2–0–0–3
Open
X–0–2–4–0–3
Fret 2
X–0–2–4–5–3

More chords with E as the root

The same chord type in other keys