The Em 7 guitar chord is an attractive minor seventh chord that’s easy to play and suits various musical genres. Consisting of notes E, G, B, and D it has many applications across musical genres.
This article presents various methods of playing an Em7 chord on guitar. While each technique offers its own distinctive sound, all are simple to learn and incorporate into songs.
Barre Shape
There are various voicings of an em 7 guitar chord, but its most widely-used is a basic barre chord shape. This chord can be used across many genres and should be one of the first chord shapes beginners learn; its accessibility makes it suitable for learning first-timers without needing complex finger stretches or stretching exercises.
To create an Em7 chord, place your index finger on the 8th fret of the 2nd string, middle finger on 9th fret of 4th string and finally your ring finger on 12th fret of 1st string – this form often used third inversion, meaning the root note resides on 4th string.
Though this voicing may appear straightforward, it does require practice to get comfortable playing barre chords. When performing this chord it’s essential that both hands remain relaxed while pressing down evenly – this will prevent any fret-buzz and ensure a clean sound!
If you’re having difficulty with barre chords, take some time to practice them without music. This will allow you to get used to applying pressure correctly, and also show if your chords sound good or not.
An effective way to practice an em 7 chord is to incorporate it in songs you know, which will familiarize you with both its sound and form – essential elements in becoming an adept guitarist. Plus, playing familiar songs helps build muscle memory that’s essential when performing fast-paced songs!
The open position em 7 chord is an extremely popular choice among acoustic guitarists, as it uses all four strings on your guitar. Constructed of the notes E, G, B and D – its soothing sound will have you wanting to play it again and again. To play this chord simply place your index finger on the 1st fret of the 5th string before placing middle and ring fingers over respective 2nd and 3rd frets of 4th string respectively and 1st and 5th strings respectively.
Open Position
Em7 Is One Of The Most Used Chords On Guitar and can be found in many songs. Additionally, It Is Easy To Learn in Open Position With Standard Tuning so it can be learned quickly without compromising the sound. There Are Multiple Ways To Form An Em7 Chord In Open Position And This Lesson Will Explore Some Forms And Explore How They Sound
An easy way to form an em7 chord in open position is using similar fingering as that used for Dm7 chords, since both formations share similar shapes. However, in open position versions you do not play the fifth string – creating a jazzier and open sound suitable for certain genres of music.
This version of an em7 chord can be more difficult to play as it requires moving your fingers up higher on the fretboard and being mindful not to hit any strings other than fifth (which would produce major chord instead). But mastering this formation will add jazzy and open sounds to your music!
Another way of playing an em7 chord in open position is using similar fingering techniques as for Dm7 chord, but leaving out the fifth string altogether. While this formation may prove challenging to execute successfully, it will result in great sound from your guitar!
Finally, try creating an em7 in open position by following the same fingering as for a Dm7, but placing your index finger on the fourth string and your pinky on the second string instead. Although more advanced and may require stretching efforts to form effectively, this voicing provides rich and complex sounding chords.
Variations
The Em7 chord can be played in several different voicings, each giving off its own distinctive sound. Most guitarists begin learning this chord via open position – it provides a great opportunity to gain experience playing this full, rich sound while working on your fretting hand technique!
Playing the Em7 chord in barre position requires more coordination than its open position version; but this approach can produce amazing sounds. Drop 2 chord voicing can create great harmonies by shifting chord tones down an octave lower; this version of Em7 chord is still easy enough for beginners but requires additional practice for maximum effect.
For something more challenging, if you wish to experiment further you can move the barre shape up the fretboard for an alternative sound and to develop your finger strength. Altering the order of strings may make the chord sound different – just be wary not to add any sharp or flat notes that may taint its sound!
One variation of the em 7 chord that works particularly well in jazz music is the barred octave chord. This chord can serve as the root chord in a II7-V-I chord progression or serve as the basis for minor seventh scales.
This unique voicing of an Em7 chord resembles that of the barre shape, yet excludes its fifth finger for a unique sound that makes this chord suitable for jazz environments.
Finally, the em7 chord in tenth position can also be played effectively. This chord can be heard on Fleetwood Mac songs like “Landslide.” Additionally, bluegrass musicians use this chord. Practice regularly so you know exactly how it sounds; then when songs featuring that chord come along you will know exactly how to play it!
Conclusions
As a beginner guitarist, it’s essential to find a balance between challenging yourself to learn complex chords and enjoying more straightforward ones like E minor 7 chord (or Em7) – one of the easiest chords to learn – and simple ones such as Em7 that will add character and melody to your songs.
This chord can be formed by stacking a minor triad with a flat seventh note and played differently depending on desired effect. It’s popularly used in ballads to create an emotional, melancholic mood while it can also give songs an exciting jazz or bossa nova sound.
One way to add drama and tension to a chord progression is using major seventh intervals, which tend to sound sharp and dissonant. This technique can add drama and dramatise it – it is especially common in rock music.
There are various kinds of major seventh intervals available, each one offering its own distinctive sound. Certain genres of music may require specific intervals more than others. Therefore, experiment with various voicings and strumming patterns until you find what suits your musical taste best.
Dominant 7th chords are another popular type of seventh chord found across many genres of music, but particularly popular in funk music where they help create a danceable groove. One example is Stevie Wonder’s hit Just the Two of Us which shows just how dominant seventh chords can elevate this genre of music.
Minor seventh chords are an iconic aspect of jazz music, often found accompanying piano or string instruments and heard in iconic jazz tracks like Take Five by Paul Simon or My Favorite Things by the Beatles.
To play the D major chord, place your index finger on the first fret of the D string i.e. 4th string, while your middle or ring finger lays over the second fret of A string i.e. 2nd string and strumming these together as an ensemble chord. Also make sure you practice each note separately as well as in combination with other chords so you gain an understanding of their relationships between each other and how best they fit with one another.