Em7 Chord
Em7 combines a minor triad with D, its flat seventh. In a ii-V-I it often starts the journey rather than ending it.
- Notes: E-G-B-D
- Symbol: Em7
- ii7 in D major
- Minor third and flat seventh
Em7
How to play an Em7 chord
Notes: E - G - B - DEm7
Root position
E - G - B - D1st inversion
G - B - D - E2nd inversion
B - D - E - G3rd inversion
D - E - G - B
Where does Em7 belong?
In D major, Em7 starts as ii7 before the dominant moves toward the tonic.
Play the role cards to hear how its surrounding chords change the job it does; Diatonic Chords explains the basic numbered roles.
- The ii in ii-V-Iii7
The first step of the most common move in jazz, heading to D.
Em7ii7A7Dmaj7 - The relative minorvi7
Same notes as G major with a darker center.
Gmaj7Em7vi7Am7D7 - Dorian vampi7
Two chords back and forth: the major IV gives E Dorian its brighter minor sound.
Em7i7A7 - A soft stand-iniii7
It shares three notes with Cmaj7, so it moves without leaving home.
Cmaj7Em7iii7Fmaj7
Progressions to try
- Em7A7Dmaj7
Em7 begins a ii-V-I in D major; listen for the move through the dominant to the maj7 arrival.
- Gmaj7Em7Am7D7
Here Em7 serves as vi7, keeping the phrase moving toward the following minor-seven chord.
- Em7A7
The two-chord Dorian vamp gives Em7 room to sound like a center without a final cadence.
- Cmaj7Em7Fmaj7
In C major, Em7 acts as iii7 between the home and IVmaj7 chords.
Which shape should you use?
On guitar, start with the open 020000 grip. Let the open strings ring and keep any strings marked x silent. The x79787 shape gives you another position when the neighboring chords sit elsewhere on the neck.
On ukulele, the open shape 0202 is the easiest place to start. The 4435 grip moves the chord to another register.
On piano, play E-G-B-D. Move E up an octave to reach the first inversion, G-B-D-E; the notes remain the same while the lowest voice changes.
What are the inversions?
E is the root, G the minor third, B the fifth and D the flat seventh.
- Root position: E-G-B-D, with E lowest.
- First inversion: G-B-D-E, written Em7/G if G is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Second inversion: B-D-E-G, written Em7/B if B is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Third inversion: D-E-G-B, written Em7/D if D is lowest in the whole arrangement.
A slash chord names the note in the bass, not merely the lowest note under one hand. Chord Inversions shows how to read that distinction.
How does Em7 differ from E7?
Keep E, B and D, then raise the third from G to G sharp. That turns Em7 into E7; listen to the one moving voice. Try that one-note change on piano, then use the comparer to hear it in the full chord. See E7 for the other chord's full spelling and roles.
Em7
E - G - B - DE7
E - G# - B - D