Em7 chord is an extremely flexible chord, fitting seamlessly into any musical genre from hard-hitting funk to upbeat pop. It makes an excellent addition to your guitar chord arsenal!
The first version is an open voicing that doesn’t require any muting; simply bar the first through fifth strings with your index finger while letting the rest of the strings ring freely.
Key of E
E minor 7 chord is an excellent choice when looking to add complexity to your chord progressions, offering several possible positions across the fretboard that produce different sounds.
Keep in mind that chords are simply combinations of notes from a scale; therefore, key is really just another term for where chords come from.
The Em7 is also known as an Em minor triad or E minor 7, but what distinguishes this chord from its counterparts is its addition of a flattened seventh. This adds tension that may either be startling or intriguing depending on its context; practicing it alongside other chords so you can get familiar with its tonal qualities is crucial – one way is with starting off with simple three chord progression such as G – Bb – C.
Inversions
As you become more acquainted with the Em7 chord, it is also beneficial to familiarize yourself with its inversions. An inversion occurs when one note (usually the tonic or root note) does not function as the bass note of a chord, creating tension that either sounds dissonant or provides necessary harmonic balance within a sequence of chords.
These chords utilize the same movable fingerings found in other quality 7th chord voicings; however, in this instance the fifth is left out to ensure playability as its addition would create an unplayable chord since root and 4th strings are close together on one string.
Drop 2 Em7 chord voicing is often utilized when performing Queen’s “Doing All Right”. The combination of E major, F#m7 and Emmaj7 creates a very balanced sounding chord which adds an air of resolve to any song containing this progression. Acquire these chords to enhance your songwriting!
Fingerings
The Em7 chord is a basic triad, consisting of the first, third and fifth tones from E major scale arranged as a triad; its name derives from this fifth note which gives this chord its identity.
Play the barre chord by placing your middle or ring finger on the 4th string at 2nd fret and your pinky finger at 9th fret on 3rd string; this formation is known as barre chord formation.
Understanding intervals on the guitar is crucial if you want to create various chords and sound amazing! For more information about intervals, read this article.
Em7 chord is a staple in folk, indie, and acoustic music genres and adds a melancholic and dreamy sound to songs. One such example can be found in Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On for which this chord provides its soul and depth. Learn this chord as well as many others with ChordBank’s Chord Coach which gives real-time feedback as you play, helping guide each finger individually through playing exercises.
Strum
The Em7 chord is a variation on the E minor triad with its flattened seventh note. This chord can add depth and sophistication to jazz music progressions and should also be explored in open position for greater complexity and sophistication.
Beginners can learn to form and strum this chord easily by placing their index finger across all six strings at the 7th fret in a barre shape, creating a barre shape. They then strum all but the high E string which should remain open. It’s an ideal chord for beginning players because its easy formation provides full sound.
Another way to play this chord is by positioning your middle finger on the second fret of the D string and your ring finger on the third fret of the B string, placing both middle fingers at their respective frets, then strumming all six strings until an Em7 chord emerges – or alternatively you could leave out the seventh altogether and create an Em chord that has greater tension or different sound altogether.