CifraLab

Em Guitar Chord

Em guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

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Shape 1/2
Chord shapes:(2 positions)
EmGuitar fingering diagram for Em123412STRING6ªE5ªB4ªE3ªG2ªB1ªE
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What sets Em apart

Play Em one string at a time and you hear E, G and B. E is the root, G the minor third and B the fifth.

String by string, low to high, it plays E, B, E, G, B and E. The root, E, shows up three times in the main shape. The lowest and highest notes are both E, two octaves apart, on strings 6 and 1.

The open strings add notes to Em too. String 6 gives E, string 3 gives G, string 2 gives B and string 1 gives E. Every finger presses at fret 2. There is one more position, starting at fret 7.

Change only string 3 in Em and you have E. Em and G have G and B in common. Moving to C, you keep one finger down.

Em belongs to five keys. In G major it is the vi, in D major the ii and in C major the iii. The rest appear in the key list. Further down there are two songs that use it.

Chord Progressions

Harmonic circles featuring the Em chord:

01G G - Em - Am - D702D D - Bm - Em - A703Em Em - C - Am - B704Bm Bm - G - Em - F#7
Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (Em)

Formula: Minor Triad (1 - ♭3 - 5)
Constituent chord intervals:

E 1G ♭3B 5

Root Bass (Fundamental String)6th String (Low E) • Fret 0 (E)

String Control (Muted & Active)6 / 6 • Active and muted strings status indicator

2 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for Em:

01

Standard

Standard Position
6 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
○Open
EDegree 1
5th String (A)
Fret 2Finger 1
BDegree 5
4th String (D)
Fret 2Finger 2
EDegree 1
3rd String (G)
○Open
GDegree ♭3
2nd String (B)
○Open
BDegree 5
1st String (High E)
○Open
EDegree 1

Placement tip: Press: 5th String (A) at fret 2 with your Index finger, 4th String (D) at fret 2 with your Middle finger. Play open: 6th String (Low E), 3rd String (G), 2nd String (B), 1st String (High E).

02

Barre 7

Barre fret 7
5 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
5th String (A)
Fret 7Barre
EDegree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 9
BDegree 5
3rd String (G)
Fret 9
EDegree 1
2nd String (B)
Fret 8
GDegree ♭3
1st String (High E)
Fret 7Barre
BDegree 5

Placement tip: Barre fret 7. Press: 4th String (D) at fret 9, 3rd String (G) at fret 9, 2nd String (B) at fret 8. Don't play: 6th String (Low E).

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (Em)

Standard Position
Key Principle:

Fingers 2 and 3 (or 1 and 2) on fret 2 of strings 5 and 4. Keep knuckles parallel to the fretboard.

Thumb Placement: Aligned with fret 2 for a completely relaxed hand posture.

Most Common Beginner Mistake:

Letting finger 3 lean down into the open 3rd string (G), or gripping with excessive clamp pressure.

Immediate Solution: Release grip tension progressively until fret buzz occurs, then add back just 5% pressure to find the effortless acoustic balance point.

The shape in numbers

ItemIn this chord
Fretsfret 2
Fretting fingers2
Open6th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st
Mutednone

What to check

The open 6th and 3rd strings sit next to a fretting finger.

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from Em

Listen: Em → C · G · Am

  1. Em
  2. C
  3. Em
  4. G
  5. Em
  6. Am
Em → C01
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 finger stays
Stay in place
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
Move
  • finger 3: string 5, fret 3
  • finger 1: string 2, fret 1
Em → G02
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 finger stays
Stay in place
  • finger 1: string 5, fret 2
Move
  • finger 2: string 6, fret 3
  • finger 3: string 1, fret 3
Em → Am03
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 finger stays
Stay in place
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
Move
  • finger 3: string 3, fret 2
  • finger 1: string 2, fret 1

Em in every key

Em sits in the scale of 5 keys.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty
1/5
Highest fret
2
Frets the hand covers
1
Barre
No
Strings that ring
6/6
Fretting fingers
2

Em on other instruments

PianoThe same notes on the keyboard.UkuleleEm on four strings, with sound.BassEm as a low-register arpeggio.All togetherHear guitar, piano, bass and violin together.
Songs with this chord

Famous songs featuring this chord (Em)

Well-known songs where this chord plays a clear role

01"Nothing Else Matters"Metallica • 1991Opens the intro (Em).
02"Zombie"The Cranberries • 1994Part of the chord loop that repeats through most of the song (Em - C - G - D).
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the chord (Em)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the Em chord?

To play the Em chord on guitar, all 6 strings are played from the 6th string (Low E) to the 1st string (High E). Arch your finger joints perpendicular to the fretboard so adjacent strings ring clearly.

What is the root bass note of the Em chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the Em chord is its root note: E. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 6 at fret 0.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the Em chord and what is its formula?

The Em chord is constructed using the 1 - ♭3 - 5 formula (Minor Triad). Its constituent pitches are E, G, B.

How do you prevent the Em chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the Em chord from buzzing or sounding muted, press the strings using the tips of your fingers at a strict 90-degree hammer angle. Position each finger immediately behind the fret wire with your thumb centered behind the neck.

What famous songs use the Em chord?

"Nothing Else Matters" (Metallica, 1991). Opens the intro (Em).

"Zombie" (The Cranberries, 1994). Part of the chord loop that repeats through most of the song (Em - C - G - D).

Study sheet · High resolution

Official Em chord diagram

Em guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4
Download HD sheetView circle (G)→

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Other chords in the E family:

Chord E Chord Eb Chord Ebm Chord E7 Chord Eb7 Chord Emaj7 Chord Ebmaj7 Chord Em7