How to Play the Em Chord on the Guitar

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The E minor chord, or Em, is made of up of the notes E, G, and B. You can play it with only two fingers and, as part of the key of E minor, it has a deep, melancholy sound to it. This article will teach you the proper finger position to use to play the chord.

1

Place your middle finger on the 5th string, second fret.

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Play the Em Chord on the Guitar
    [1] Place your middle finger just to the left of the second fret (for right-handed guitarists), as near to the fret as possible so that you get a clean, clear tone.
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2

Place your ring finger on the 4th string, second fret.

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Play the Em Chord on the Guitar
    This is the third string from the top. Again, keep your finger near that second fret, but still on the head-side of the guitar. [2]
    • The head of the guitar is the small piece at the end of the neck with the tuning knobs.
3

Leave the other strings open.

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Play the Em Chord on the Guitar
    Make sure you use the tips of your fingers on the frets so that you don't accidentally mute the lower strings -- you want them free to ring out. [3]
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4

Strum all the strings at once.

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Play the Em Chord on the Guitar
    However, for a deeper, darker sound, limit yourself to just the top four strings or so. For a lighter sound, like in many ska and reggae songs, just play the bottom 3-4 strings.
5

Alternatively, remove your index finger from an E major chord.

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Play the Em Chord on the Guitar
    If you already know how to play an E-major chord, you can get to the Em by simply lifting your index finger off the first fret. [4] Your final chord will look like:
    • --0--
    • --0--
    • --0--
    • --2--
    • --2--
    • --0-- [5]
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  • Question
    Which string do I play when strumming in Em?
    Community Answer
    For the entire E minor chord, you strum every string, but you have to put your first finger on the second fret on the A string, and put your second finger on the second fret on the D string.
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  • Question
    Where can I learn guitar in Esher?
    Community Answer
    It's better if you learn on your own by using online tutorials.
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  • Question
    Method 2 and Method 1 are the same chord? Do the different methods sound different?
    Coco Shu
    Community Answer
    On many instruments, there is more than one way to play the same chord. Methods 2 and 1 are different fingering, but the sound and chord are exactly the same.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Tips

      • Practice getting to and from this chord from other chords to incorporate it into new songs.
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      Things You'll Need

      • A guitar

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.chordbank.com/chords/e-minor/
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Puct4HkXsaE
      3. ↑ https://nationalguitaracademy.com/lessons/em-guitar-chord/
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hfm4-yOI6oA
      5. ↑ http://www.guitarlessons.com/guitar-lessons/blues-guitar-quick-start-series/turnaround-blues-guitar-licks/
      6. Videos from GuitarLessons.com

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