Em7 chord on guitar
Em7 is E, G, B and D. The easiest shape is 0-2-0-0-0-0. Tap Play, then slow it down.
0-2-0-0-0-0 · open · easy
- Notes
- E · G · B · D
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · 5 · ♭7
- First shape
- 0-2-0-0-0-0
How to play Em7 on guitar
Shape 1, 0-2-0-0-0-0, reading from the low E string on the left:
- Index finger: A string, 2nd fret (B).
- Let the open low E, D, G, B and high E strings ring (E, D, G, B and E).
- Arch your fingers so their tips come down vertically. That keeps them off the open strings, which have to ring for the chord to sound complete.
Other ways to play Em7
- 12-14-12-12-12-12: barre shape at the 12th fret, medium. Root on the 6th string: move it up or down and it names a different minor seventh chord.
- x-7-9-7-8-7: barre shape at the 7th fret, medium. The root is on the A string; it's the Am7 shape moved up the neck.
Em7 the capo way
No barre needed if a capo is allowed: capo on the 2nd fret and play the open Dm7 shape (x-x-0-2-1-1), capo on the 5th fret and play the open Bm7 shape (x-2-0-2-0-2) or capo on the 7th fret and play the open Am7 shape (x-0-2-0-1-0). The chord sounds as Em7 because the capo raises every string by 2 half steps.
Moving between Em7 and its neighbours
These are the changes you'll meet most often with Em7, using the first shape of each chord.
- A7 (V in D major): Em7 (0-2-0-0-0-0) to A7 (x-0-2-0-2-0): the index finger slides across to the D string at the same fret, the middle finger comes down on the B string, 2nd fret. E and G carry over from one chord to the other. A7 on guitar
- Gmaj7 (IV in D major): Em7 (0-2-0-0-0-0) to Gmaj7 (3-2-0-0-0-2): your index finger stays put, the middle finger comes down on the high E string, 2nd fret, the ring finger comes down on the low E string, 3rd fret. G, B and D carry over from one chord to the other. Gmaj7 on guitar
- Dmaj7 (I in D major): Em7 (0-2-0-0-0-0) to Dmaj7 (x-x-0-2-2-2): the index finger goes to the G string, 2nd fret, the middle finger comes down on the B string, 2nd fret, the ring finger comes down on the high E string, 2nd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. The two chords share D, which is why the change sounds smooth. Dmaj7 on guitar
Em7 is a minor seventh chord: a minor triad plus a minor seventh. Em7 is the easy-going minor, common as the ii chord right before a dominant seventh. Play it once strummed and once picked to hear the difference.
A short Em7 drill
Before strumming, play 0-2-0-0-0-0 note by note: E then B then D then G then B then E. A dead note tells you exactly which finger to fix. Finish by moving between 0-2-0-0-0-0 and 12-14-12-12-12-12 to learn two positions of the same chord.
Where Em7 shows up
In D major, ii–V–I on guitar is Em7 (0-2-0-0-0-0), A7 (x-0-2-0-2-0) and Dmaj7 (x-x-0-2-2-2). About the jazz cadence.
Em7 on piano and ukulele
Switching instruments? Try Em7 on ukulele or Em7 on piano, or compare them on the Em7 chord page.
Related E chords on guitar
Other minor seventh chords
Em7 on guitar: questions
What notes are in Em7 on guitar?
E, G, B and D. In the 0-2-0-0-0-0 shape the strings play E (low E string, open), B (A string), D (D string, open), G (G string, open), B (B string, open) and E (high E string, open), so E and B are doubled.
What's the easiest way to play Em7 on guitar?
0-2-0-0-0-0, the first shape on this page. No barre: some strings ring open.
Is Em7 a barre chord on guitar?
Not usually: 0-2-0-0-0-0 needs no barre. The barre versions come later, higher on the neck.
Which string does Em7 start on?
In the 0-2-0-0-0-0 shape the lowest string you play is the low E string, open, which is E, the root.
Shapes and sound are generated from the notes E, G, B and D and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.