E Minor Guitar Chord Em

E minor open and barre shapes

One grip near the nut, using open strings. Five movable barre shapes in order up the neck to the 12th fret, each named after the open CAGED shape it comes from.

Numbers above the strings are fingers; o is an open string and x is not played. The root is the white dot with a heavy red ring and red centre, or a red ring round an open string.

E minor triads on every string set

E, G and B as three-note triads: root position, 1st and 2nd inversion on each string set of three neighbouring strings, lowest set first.

What E minor does in a key

Every key in which Em is diatonic, with the scale degree it sits on.

Major keys

iii in C major; ii in D major; vi in G major

Minor keys

i in E minor; v in A minor; iv in B minor

Where E minor often goes next

• A minor chord iii to vi in C major
• A major chord ii to V in D major
• C major chord vi to IV in G major
• B minor chord iv to i in B minor
• B major chord i to V in E harmonic minor
• F♯ major chord iv to V in B harmonic minor

Chords related to E minor

• G major chord, the relative major of Em
• F♯ diminished chord, the ii° that leads to Em in a minor ii–V–i

Other chords on E

Minor chords in every key