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Em/Ab 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 Ab instead of the root.

Guitar

Strings 4–2–2–0–0–0

How to play the Em/Ab chord on guitar

Read the string pattern 4–2–2–0–0–0 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) Fret 4 · pinky
5th string (A) Fret 2 · index finger
4th string (D) Fret 2 · middle finger
3rd string (G) Open
2nd string (B) Open
1st string (high E) Open

Other names for the Em/Ab chord

Other names: E minor, Emin, E-

Music theory name: minor triad

Common name: E minor chord

Notes and intervals in the Em/Ab chord

Note Interval
E Root
G Minor 3rd
B Perfect 5th
Ab Bass note

All variations

Open
4–2–2–0–0–0
Open
4–2–2–0–0–3
Fret 3
X–X–6–4–5–3
Fret 6
X–X–6–9–8–7

More chords with E as the root

The same chord type in other keys