Em7 chord on ukulele

Em7 is E, G, B and D. The easiest shape is 0-2-0-2. Press Play to hear it, then try it at half speed.

0-2-0-2 · open · easy

Notes: E · G · B · D
Formula: 1 · ♭3 · 5 · ♭7
First shape: 0-2-0-2

How to play Em7 on ukulele

Shape 1, 0-2-0-2, reading from the G string on the left:

Put your index finger on the C string at the 2nd fret, which is D.
Put your middle finger on the A string at the 2nd fret, which is B.
The open G and E strings add G and E; don't touch them.

If an open string sounds dead, a fingertip is leaning on it. Come down more on the tips, with your knuckles bent.
Strum with the pad of your index finger or thumb, all four strings, across the spot where the neck meets the body.

Other ways to play Em7

7-7-7-7: movable shape at the 7th fret, medium. Up the neck the chord gets thinner and brighter, a good contrast to the open version.

Capo shortcuts for Em7

No barre needed if a capo is allowed: capo on the 2nd fret and play the open Dm7 shape (2-2-1-3), capo on the 5th fret and play the open Bm7 shape (2-2-2-2) or capo on the 7th fret and play the open Am7 shape (0-0-0-0). The chord sounds as Em7 because the capo raises every string by 2 half steps.

Changing from Em7 to the chords around it

The chords Em7 usually goes to, and what changes under your fingers.

A7 (V in D major): Em7 (0-2-0-2) to A7 (0-1-0-0): move the index finger to the C string, 1st fret. Shared notes: E and G. A7 on ukulele
Gmaj7 (IV in D major): Em7 (0-2-0-2) to Gmaj7 (0-2-2-2): your index finger stays put, the middle finger slides across to the E string at the same fret, the ring finger comes down on the A string, 2nd fret. Shared notes: G, B and D. Gmaj7 on ukulele
Dmaj7 (I in D major): Em7 (0-2-0-2) to Dmaj7 (2-2-2-4): the index finger slides across to the G string at the same fret, the middle finger goes to the C string, 2nd fret, the ring finger comes down on the E string, 2nd fret, the pinky finger comes down on the A string, 4th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. D carries over from one chord to the other. Dmaj7 on ukulele

Em7 is a minor seventh chord: a minor triad plus a minor seventh. All 4 notes of Em7 fit on the ukulele's four strings. The slow arpeggio button above makes that quality easy to hear.

Getting Em7 under your fingers

Pick shape 1 one string at a time, low to high: G, D, E, B. Every note should ring clearly; if one thuds, adjust that finger before you strum. Then switch to 7-7-7-7 and back four times without looking at your hand.

Keys and progressions with Em7

In D major, ii–V–I on ukulele is Em7 (0-2-0-2), A7 (0-1-0-0) and Dmaj7 (2-2-2-4). About the jazz cadence.

Em7 on guitar and piano

Switching instruments? Try Em7 on piano or Em7 on guitar, or compare them on the Em7 chord page.

Next to try on ukulele

Other minor seventh chords

Em7 on ukulele: questions

What notes are in Em7 on ukulele?

E, G, B and D. In the 0-2-0-2 shape the strings play G (G string, open), D (C string), E (E string, open) and B (A string).

What's the easiest way to play Em7 on ukulele?

0-2-0-2, the shape at the top of this page. Open strings do part of the work, so no barre.

Is Em7 a barre chord on ukulele?

Not the usual shape: 0-2-0-2 needs no barre.

Which string does Em7 start on?

In the 0-2-0-2 shape the lowest string you play is the G string, open, which is G, the minor third.

Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside Em7. Updated September 2026.