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Em7 Chord on Guitar

Em7 is the E minor 7th chord — 4 notes (E, G, B, D) built from the formula 1 ♭3 5 ♭7. Below are playable shapes across the fretboard, the keys it belongs to and the scales to use when soloing over it.

Notes: E · G · B · DFormula: 1 · ♭3 · 5 · ♭7Hear it and see it on the fretboard ▸

Em7: Chord shapes (open & barre)

  • Em7 – open positionR5♭7♭35Ropen position
  • Em7 – fret 2××R5♭7♭3fret 2
  • Em7 – fret 55×R♭3♭7R5fret 5
  • Em7 – fret 77×R5♭7♭35fret 7
  • Em7 – fret 1212R5♭7♭35Rfret 12

Em7: Drop 2 voicings

  • Em7 – bass: 555R♭3♭7××bass: 5
  • Em7 – bass: 512×5R♭3♭7×bass: 5
  • Em7 – bass: 58××5R♭3♭7bass: 5
  • Em7 – bass: ♭79♭7♭35R××bass: ♭7
  • Em7 – bass: ♭7×♭7♭35R×bass: ♭7
  • Em7 – bass: ♭712××♭7♭35Rbass: ♭7
  • Em7 – bass: R12R5♭7♭3××bass: R
  • Em7 – bass: R7×R5♭7♭3×bass: R
  • Em7 – bass: R××R5♭7♭3bass: R
  • Em7 – bass: ♭3♭3♭7R5××bass: ♭3
  • Em7 – bass: ♭39×♭3♭7R5×bass: ♭3
  • Em7 – bass: ♭35××♭3♭7R5bass: ♭3

Em7: Drop 3 voicings

  • Em7 – bass: ♭3♭3×R5♭7×bass: ♭3
  • Em7 – bass: ♭39×♭3×R5♭7bass: ♭3
  • Em7 – bass: 555×♭3♭7R×bass: 5
  • Em7 – bass: 512×5×♭3♭7Rbass: 5
  • Em7 – bass: ♭78♭7×5R♭3×bass: ♭7
  • Em7 – bass: ♭7×♭7×5R♭3bass: ♭7
  • Em7 – bass: R12R×♭7♭35×bass: R
  • Em7 – bass: R7×R×♭7♭35bass: R

Em7: Shell voicings (jazz)

  • Em7 – R-3-710R♭3♭7×××R-3-7
  • Em7 – R-3-75×R♭3♭7××R-3-7
  • Em7 – R-7-312R×♭7♭3××R-7-3
  • Em7 – R-7-37×R×♭7♭3×R-7-3

Keys that contain Em7

Scales to play over Em7

Ordered from the most common choice. All of them contain E, G, B, D.

Other E chords

Triads

Sevenths

Sixths

Added

Extended

Minor 7th chords in other keys

FAQ

What notes are in the Em7 chord?
Em7 (E minor 7th) contains E, G, B, D — formula 1 ♭3 5 ♭7.
How do you play Em7 on guitar?
A common shape is 020000 (low E to high E, x = muted string, open position). This page shows more shapes, drop 2, drop 3 and shell voicings in the interactive library.
What scale goes with Em7?
Good choices to solo over Em7: E Dorian, E Aeolian (Minor), E Minor pentatonic.
What key is Em7 in?
Em7 is diatonic in C major (iii7), D major (ii7), G major (vi7), E minor (i7), A minor (v7), B minor (iv7).