E minor chord is one of the most commonly used chords in modern music, and more than that, it’s the lowest-sounding chord that you can play on a regular guitar tuned to standard E. Genres that use this chord frequently are blues, rock, metal, and many more! It is a dark-sounding chord that is easy to play!
This chord is one of the first chords any guitarist should know due to its importance in popular music and its simple shapes! E minor goes perfectly well with A minor, B major, C major, and D# diminished, among others! Let’s explore some of the shapes E minor has to offer!
Standard E Minor Chord Shape
Em standard shape is fairly easy to play, and it’s one of the lowest chords that you can play on your guitar tuned to E standard! The best part about this is that you will need only two fingers to play this chord, and you don’t have to worry about muting any string! Follow the image to play this amazing chord:
Easy Em Chord Shape (Open)
This version of the Em chord is the easiest you can get. It’s a simplified version of the chord, and the best thing is that you don’t have to press on any strings! You’d only have to strum the first three strings. Follow the next image to know which strings you should play:
Would we recommend using this chord? If you would like to add a different sound to your Em, then yes. However, we know that there are many different versions of Em that could sound much better than this open Em chord.
Em Triad Chord Shapes
Exploring the Em triads along the fretboard can enrich your playing versatility since each of these chords sound very different even though they have the same notes. Let’s explore some of the different Em chords that you can find along your fretboard!
E Minor Barre Chord Shapes
Barre chord shapes are usually tricky. Therefore, it’s advised to practice them as much as possible. Usually, the most difficult part about this is playing many notes with one finger, but by gently pressing those series of notes with the side of your finger. Practicing barre chords on Em is not only useful but will also give you the possibility to play this dark chord in a not-so-conventional way! Follow the next images to play the E minor barre chords:
