Em9 Guitar Chord
Em9 is a minor ninth chord. It adds a major ninth to a minor seventh chord for a smooth sound heard a lot in soul and jazz. Its notes are E, G, B, D and F#. Below is one way to play it, with a chord diagram, tab and finger numbers.
Notes in Em9
| Note | Degree | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| E | R | Root |
| G | b3 | Minor 3rd |
| B | 5 | Perfect 5th |
| D | b7 | Minor 7th |
| F# | 9 | Major 9th |
Formula: 1–b3–5–b7–9
Em9 chord shapes
Finger numbers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky. In the tab, x means don't play that string and 0 means play it open. In the diagrams the top line is the 1st (thinnest) string and the nut is on the left.
E-shape 2fr
Easiest- Tab (6th → 1st string)
- 0 2 0 0 0 2
- Fingers
- – 3 – – – 4
How to play Em9 (easiest shape)
Shape: E-shape 2fr, tab 0 2 0 0 0 2 (6th to 1st string).
- 1Put your ring finger (3) on the 5th string at the 2nd fret.
- 2Put your pinky (4) on the 1st string at the 2nd fret.
- 3Let the 6th, 4th, 3rd and 2nd strings ring open.
- 4Strum down from the 6th string to the 1st string.
Em9: common questions
- What notes are in the Em9 chord?
- Em9 has 5 notes: E, G, B, D and F#. Counted from the root, that is 1–b3–5–b7–9.
- Is there an easier way to play Em9?
- The easiest shape on this page is "E-shape 2fr" (0 2 0 0 0 2). It needs no barre: each finger presses just one string.
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