E Minor Guitar Chord
Welcome to our tutorial on the E minor (Em) chord. The Em chord belongs to the Minor Chords family and is composed of the notes E, G, and B. The intervals that build this chord are 1 (Root), b3 (Minor Third), and 5 (Perfect Fifth). This chord is a fundamental part of many songs and is a must-know for any aspiring guitarist.
To understand the Em chord and how to play it, it's essential to understand the concept of chord construction by stacking intervals. This theory will help you understand how chords are built and how they relate to each other on the fretboard. For a more in-depth understanding of intervals, you can check out our tutorial about fretboard intervals.
In this tutorial, we will provide chord diagrams and fretboard patterns to help you visualize and understand the tones that compose the Em chord. For those who are more advanced, you may find our tutorial about more advanced chords useful for expanding your chord vocabulary.
Once you've mastered the Em chord, you can start to explore common chord progressions to learn how to put chords together to create songs. This will also help you understand how the Em chord fits into various musical contexts.
Remember, learning chords is not just about memorizing shapes, but about understanding the musical theory that underpins them. So, let's dive into the Em chord and start making some beautiful music!
Notes that compose the E m chord:
Chord Structure:
How To Play The E Minor chord on guitar
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
Open
Position 2
Movable
Position 3
Open
Position 4
Open
Position 5
Open
Position 6
Open
Position 7
Movable
Position 8
Open
Position 9
Open
Position 10
Movable
Position 11
Movable
Position 12
Movable
Position 13
Open
Position 14
Open
Position 15
Open
Position 16
Open
Position 17
Barre
Movable
Position 18
Barre
Open
Position 19
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 are the specific notes that make up the E minor (Em) chord?
The E minor chord is constructed from three distinct notes: E, G, and B. These notes represent the root, minor third, and perfect fifth of the chord, respectively.
What do the intervals 1, b3, and 5 signify for the Em chord?
These numbers represent the musical intervals from the root note (E). '1' is the Root (E), 'b3' is the Minor Third (G), and '5' is the Perfect Fifth (B). These intervals define the unique harmonic structure and sound of the E minor chord.
How does the 'b3' (minor third) interval determine that the Em chord is a minor chord?
The presence of the 'b3' (minor third) interval is the defining characteristic that gives any chord its minor quality. In the Em chord, the G note (the minor third relative to E) creates the melancholic or 'minor' sound, distinguishing it from a major chord.
After I've learned to play the Em chord, what's the best way to start using it in actual music?
Once you're comfortable playing the Em chord, the next step is to explore common chord progressions. This teaches you how the Em chord fits with other chords to form musical phrases and enables you to start playing and understanding the structure of songs.