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Em7(Minor 7th Chord)

A minor triad with a minor seventh. Smooth, soulful sound central to jazz and soul music.

Notes
E – G – B – D
Intervals (semitones)
0 – 3 – 7 – 10
Type
7th Chord

🎹 Em7 on Piano

Press highlighted keys simultaneously to play the Em7 chord.

R
E(Root (R))
2
G(Minor 3rd (♭3))
3
B(Perfect 5th)
4
D(Minor 7th (♭7))

🎸 Em7 on Guitar

The Em7 chord uses notes E, G, B, D. Build a voicing by finding these notes on any strings — root on the 6th string is a common starting point for barre chord shapes.

Interval Analysis

DegreeInterval NameSemitonesNote in E
RootRoot (R)0E
3rdMinor 3rd (♭3)3G
5thPerfect 5th7B
7thMinor 7th (♭7)10D

About the E Minor 7th Chord

The Em7 chord (E Minor 7th) consists of 4 notes: E, G, B, D. A minor triad with a minor seventh. Smooth, soulful sound central to jazz and soul music.

To build any minor 7th chord, apply intervals of 0, 3, 7, 10 semitones above the root. Starting from E: the notes land on E, G, B, D.

Playing Em7 on Piano

Press E, G, B, D simultaneously. In root position, E is lowest. First inversion places G in the bass for a lighter sound; second inversion uses B as the bass note.

Common Chord Progressions Using Em7

  • I–IV–V: Em7 – Am7 – Bm7 (blues and rock)
  • I–V–vi–IV: Em7 – B – C#m – A (pop staple)
  • I–vi–IV–V: Em7 – C#m – A – B (50s progression)

The Em7 Chord in Context

As a minor 7th chord, Em7 is the tonic (I) in the key of E major. It also appears as the IV chord in B major, and as the V chord in A major — making it one of the most important chords across all of Western music.

Other E Chords

E
Major
Em
Minor
E7
Dominant 7th
Emaj7
Major 7th
Edim
Diminished
Eaug
Augmented

Minor 7th Chord in All 12 Keys

Cm7C#m7Dm7D#m7Em7Fm7F#m7Gm7G#m7Am7A#m7Bm7
🎹 Virtual Piano
Play Em7 on piano
🎸 Virtual Guitar
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🎵 E Scale
Notes that fit Em7
🎶 Songs
Find songs using Em7

FAQ

Em7 Chord — Frequently Asked Questions

What notes are in the Em7 chord?
The E Minor 7th chord contains: E, G, B, D. These notes are derived by applying the minor 7th interval formula (0–3–7–10 semitones) to the root note E.
What is the Em7 chord used for?
A minor triad with a minor seventh. Smooth, soulful sound central to jazz and soul music. The Em7 chord is used across pop, rock, jazz, and classical music. As the I chord in the key of E major, it functions as the most stable resting point in progressions.
How do you play Em7 on piano?
On piano, play E, G, B, D simultaneously. In root position, E is the lowest note. Inversions move the bass note up — first inversion has G lowest, second inversion has B lowest.
How many notes are in a minor 7th chord?
A minor 7th chord has 4 notes: E, G, B, D (in E). It is a 7th chord, extending beyond the basic triad.
What is the difference between E major and E minor?
The E major chord (E–G#–B) uses a major third (4 semitones), giving it a bright, happy sound. The E minor chord (E–G–B) uses a minor third (3 semitones), giving it a darker, emotional sound.
What key does Em7 belong to?
Em7 naturally serves as the I chord in the key of E major. It also appears as IV in the key of B major, and as V in the key of A major.
Can I play Em7 on ukulele?
Yes. The ukulele uses GCEA tuning with 4 strings. The Em7 chord notes (E, G, B, D) can be fretted on a ukulele, though the shapes differ from guitar due to the 4-string layout and shorter scale.
What chords go well with Em7?
In the key of E major, Em7 pairs naturally with A major (IV), B major (V), and C#m (vi). The classic I–IV–V (Em7–A–B) is the foundation of blues, country, and rock.
What is a chord inversion of Em7?
An inversion places a non-root note in the bass. Em7 root position: E in bass. First inversion: G in bass. Second inversion: B in bass. Inversions create smoother bass line movement without changing the harmony.
How do I memorize the notes in a minor 7th chord?
Remember the formula: 0–3–7–10 semitones from root. For Em7: start on E, add 3 semitones, then 7 semitones, then 10 semitones. Practicing this across all 12 roots builds instant recognition of any minor 7th chord.