Em open chord (022000)
- Fingering
- 022000
- Fingers
- – 2 3 – – –
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Position
- open position
Notes in the E minor chord
The Em chord is made of E · G · B. Its formula is 1–♭3–5.
| Note | Degree | Interval from E |
|---|---|---|
| E | 1 | root |
| G | ♭3 | minor third |
| B | 5 | perfect fifth |
How to play the Em guitar chord
Second finger on the 2nd fret of the A string, third finger on the 2nd fret of the D string. Every other string rings open, and you strum all six.
It is the easiest full chord on the guitar: two fingers, one fret, no muted strings. Some players use the first and second fingers instead, which leaves the others free to add notes.
Why your Em chord buzzes or sounds muted
With only two fingers down there is not much to go wrong. If a note buzzes, the finger is sitting in the middle of the fret; slide it toward the 2nd fret wire.
Make sure the third finger is not brushing the open G string below it.
Em barre chord
Em has 1 barre shape here: 779987 (barre at the 7th fret).
A barre shape has no open strings, so it moves. Slide it up one fret and you are playing Fm.
Em open chord
The open Em chord is 022000 and 022453. The first one uses the open low E, G, B and high E strings, which is why it rings longer than the shapes higher up the neck.
Songs that use Em
- Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison): G C D Em
- Hotel California (Eagles): Bm F# A E G D Em
- Zombie (The Cranberries): Em C G D
- Wagon Wheel (Old Crow Medicine Show): G D Em C
- Ain't No Sunshine (Bill Withers): Am Em G Dm
- Losing My Religion (R.E.M.): Am Em Dm G F C
- Heart of Gold (Neil Young): Em C D G
- Nothing Else Matters (Metallica): Em D C G B7 Am
- Fast Car (Tracy Chapman): Cmaj7 G Em D
- Autumn Leaves (Jazz standard): Am7 D7 Gmaj7 Cmaj7 F#m7b5 B7 Em
- Wonderful Tonight (Eric Clapton): G D C Em
- Redemption Song (Bob Marley): G Em C Am D
- The Thrill Is Gone (B.B. King): Bm Em F#7
- Eleanor Rigby (The Beatles): Em C
Chord names only, as the songs are usually charted for guitar. Recordings may use a capo or another key.
Keys with the Em chord
Em is the iii chord in C major, ii chord in D major and vi chord in G major. In minor keys it is the v chord in A minor, iv chord in B minor and i chord in E minor.
Chords related to Em
Em guitar chord questions
How do you play an Em chord on guitar?
Play 022000, reading from the low E string to the high E string. An x means the string is not played and a 0 means it rings open. The fingers used are - 2 3 - - -.
What notes are in the Em chord?
The E minor chord has 3 notes: E, G and B. Its formula is 1–♭3–5, counted from the E major scale.
What keys is the Em chord in?
Em is the iii chord in C major, ii chord in D major and vi chord in G major. In minor keys it is the v chord in A minor, iv chord in B minor and i chord in E minor.
Em chord diagram to print or save
Printable Em chord PDF (one letter page, black on white) · Em chord PNG (1200 px)
