Em7 guitar chord
The E minor 7th chord: every way to play it on the neck, the notes in it, and the scales that sound good over it.
What's in Em7
- Notes
- E – G – B – D
- Formula
- 1 – b3 – 5 – b7
- Name
- E minor 7th
Em7E · G · B · D
3 ways to play it · Tuning E A D G B E
- Open · E shape
- D shape · 2nd fret
- A shape · 7th fret
What to play over Em7
Start with the chord's own notes — E, G, B, D — and land on them on the strong beats. Then reach for a scale; which one depends on the chord's job in the song.
- E Dorian mode
The usual choice over m7, especially a ii7 in a ii–V–I.
- E minor pentatonic scale
The safe start — it holds all four notes of the chord.
- E natural minor scale
The natural minor, when the chord is the home chord (i7).
Questions
What notes are in a Em7 chord?
Em7 has 4 notes: E, G, B, D. Counted from the root, its formula is 1 – b3 – 5 – b7.
What scale goes with Em7?
E Dorian mode is the place to start. The usual choice over m7, especially a ii7 in a ii–V–I.