E Minor Seventh Chord (Em7)

1Composition: what it contains

E – G – B – D

Symbol

Em7

Also written

Em7, Emin7, E-7, Emi7

Formula

1 ♭3 5 ♭7

2Appearance: diagrams and sound

On the guitar

On the ukulele

On the piano

On the staff

On bass and as an arpeggio

3Indications: what it is used for

The ii7, iii7 and vi7 chords of a major key and the i7 and iv7 chords of a minor key (in natural minor or Dorian context). It is the ii in the ii–V–I, the main chord in funk, soul, R&B and modal jazz vamps, and a common colour in pop and lo-fi. Dorian is the typical scale over it. It can substitute for a IV chord (ii7 for IV) and is often extended to m9 or m11.

4Dosage: how to practise it

On guitar, learn barre shapes rooted on the sixth and fifth strings, drop-2 voicings on the top four strings, and shells (root, ♭3, ♭7). On piano, play it in all inversions and in rootless voicings (♭3-5-♭7-9). Practise ii7–V7–Imaj7 progressions at 80–140 BPM in all keys. Play funk vamps on one m7 chord with sixteenth-note strumming. Arpeggiate 1-♭3-5-♭7 on bass. Ten minutes a day. Then practise moving smoothly from m7 shapes to the dominant chord a fourth higher, keeping common tones.

5Warnings and common mistakes

Do not confuse m7 with mMaj7 (major seventh) or with m7♭5 (flattened fifth). The minor seventh chord shares its notes with the major sixth chord built on its third, so the bass decides the name. On guitar, beginners often play a major third by mistake when moving barre shapes. In close voicings, avoid the root doubled next to the flat seventh where it sounds thick.

6Interactions with chords, scales and keys

Inversions

• Inversion 1 · Em7/G · G – B – D – E Play
• Inversion 2 · Em7/B · B – D – E – G Play
• Inversion 3 · Em7/D · D – E – G – B Play

Scales to play over Em7

• E Natural Minor Scale
• E Dorian Mode
• E Phrygian Mode
• E Minor Pentatonic Scale
• E Blues Scale
• E Half-Whole Diminished Scale

Where it appears (keys and Roman numerals)

• iii7 – Key of C Major
• vi7 – Key of G Major
• ii7 – Key of D Major
• v7 – Key of A Minor
• i7 – Key of E Minor
• iv7 – Key of B Minor

7Other presentations available

The same chord from every note

Cm7 C♯m7 Dm7 E♭m7 Fm7 F♯m7 Gm7 A♭m7 Am7 B♭m7 Bm7

Other chords on E

E Em Edim Eaug Esus2 Esus4 E5 E6 Em6 E7 Emaj7 Em7♭5 Edim7 Em(maj7) E7sus4 Eadd9 Em(add9) E6/9 E9 Emaj9 Em9 E11 Em11 E13 E7♭9 E7♯9 E7♯5 E7♭5