Em is one of the three most frequently used chords. It’s easy to play, sounds great and can be used across multiple genres of music.
This article will provide instructions for playing an open E minor guitar chord and barre Em guitar chord – two popular methods to do so.
Open Em
Beginner guitarists typically begin learning Open Em as one of their first minor chords, as it is easily played and provides a strong foundation to move other minor chord shapes up the fretboard.
This chord can be played by barring all four strings with your 1st finger at the 12th fret and barring all four with your index finger – giving it an interesting jazzy sound! Additionally, this is an ideal opportunity to practice string muting techniques.
This chord contains notes E(1), G(3) and B(5) and can be combined with another minor chord to create an Em7 (Emin7, Gmin7 or Em7) which adds major 7ths to any minor chord. This method of adding major 7ths to minor chords can add major 7th notes into a melody line.
Em chords give any genre a minor feel, like in Motown classic “(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave.” By switching out Em for its relative C major chord at the end of each verse, these minor chords add excitement and drive the song forward.
Barre Em
There are various bar chord shapes you can use to play an Em. One such bar chord shape is based on an open E shape and requires you to bar three strings with your index finger. Although this chord should be straightforward to play, be wary when barring strings: too much finger pressure may lead to sharp tones as well as unnecessary strain on fingers and hands.
Be patient as you practice the barre Em chord carefully so that it sounds crisp and clean. Your index finger may need to move up or down depending on where your fingers creases fall; eventually you will find a position that works for you. When barring each string individually, listen closely so each note rings loud and clear – the more often these types of chords are played, the easier they’ll become!
Open 6th String Em
Open 6th string em is one of the easiest chords to learn and has an outstanding sound, making it ideal for barred shapes and other forms of accompaniment.
To play this chord, place your left index finger on the 12th fret of the 3rd string and your right index finger on the 12th fret of the 4th string, pressing them firmly against their strings while strumming them firmly. If any strings seem muffled, make sure your fingers aren’t touching and muzzling other strings above them.
Another way of playing this chord is to barre all six strings with your left finger on the 14th fret of the 5th string and your right finger on the 14th fret of the 2nd string, providing a unique sound to add some variety and contrast with open versions of guitar music. Furthermore, this chord also works great alongside Em7th chords as part of your guitar repertoire.
Open 3rd String Em
Open Em chord is one of the first chords most guitarists learn and serves as an effective test to assess if you can fret all six strings simultaneously. While it might look complicated at first glance, once you understand its basic steps it becomes simple and enjoyable to play.
Chords are composed of various tones and octaves, so it’s essential that you know how they work. For instance, an A on the second string with another one an octave higher on the third string will form an E major chord.
Chord diagrams often use symbols to depict which finger should fret which string; for instance, a red circle with the note name inside indicates which finger you should use for fretting each string. Other diagrams use thick black lines that go across multiple strings – these represent bars – while you’ll sometimes also find an indication of fretted notes at the left of a chord diagram for easier reading from sheet music.