Em9 chord (E minor ninth) on guitar
Em9 (E minor ninth) has five notes: E, G, B, D and F sharp. Its formula is 1, b3, 5, b7, 9. In major keys, Em9 is the ii9 chord in D major and the vi9 in G major.
Em9 chord shapes
Fingers: 1 on A, 2 on e.
Fingers: 1 on A, 3 on B, 2 on e.
Finger 1 barres fret 3, then 4 on A, 2 on D, 3 on G.
Fingers: 2 on A, 1 on D.
Fingers: 2 on A, 3 on D, 1 on G, 4 on B.
Finger 1 barres fret 5, then 3 on G, 3 on B, 3 on e.
Hear it and see every shape in ScaleSpace →
| Symbol | Em9 |
|---|---|
| Also written | Emin9, E-9 |
| Notes | E G B D F# |
| Formula | 1 b3 5 b7 9 |
| Intervals | root, minor third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, major second |
| Type | Minor ninth chord |
Em9 across the neck
Guitar · 6-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G, B, e. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 0 E (1), fret 2 F# (9), fret 3 G (flat 3), fret 7 B (5), fret 10 D (flat 7), fret 12 E (1), fret 14 F# (9), fret 15 G (flat 3), fret 19 B (5), fret 22 D (flat 7), fret 24 E (1).
- A string: fret 2 B (5), fret 5 D (flat 7), fret 7 E (1), fret 9 F# (9), fret 10 G (flat 3), fret 14 B (5), fret 17 D (flat 7), fret 19 E (1), fret 21 F# (9), fret 22 G (flat 3).
- D string: fret 0 D (flat 7), fret 2 E (1), fret 4 F# (9), fret 5 G (flat 3), fret 9 B (5), fret 12 D (flat 7), fret 14 E (1), fret 16 F# (9), fret 17 G (flat 3), fret 21 B (5), fret 24 D (flat 7).
- G string: fret 0 G (flat 3), fret 4 B (5), fret 7 D (flat 7), fret 9 E (1), fret 11 F# (9), fret 12 G (flat 3), fret 16 B (5), fret 19 D (flat 7), fret 21 E (1), fret 23 F# (9), fret 24 G (flat 3).
- B string: fret 0 B (5), fret 3 D (flat 7), fret 5 E (1), fret 7 F# (9), fret 8 G (flat 3), fret 12 B (5), fret 15 D (flat 7), fret 17 E (1), fret 19 F# (9), fret 20 G (flat 3), fret 24 B (5).
- e string: fret 0 E (1), fret 2 F# (9), fret 3 G (flat 3), fret 7 B (5), fret 10 D (flat 7), fret 12 E (1), fret 14 F# (9), fret 15 G (flat 3), fret 19 B (5), fret 22 D (flat 7), fret 24 E (1).
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Questions
What notes are in the Em9 chord?
Em9 (E minor ninth) has five notes: E, G, B, D and F sharp. Its formula is 1, b3, 5, b7, 9. E is the root, G is the minor third, B is the perfect fifth, D is the minor seventh and F# is the major second.
How do you play Em9 on guitar?
The easiest shape is 020002. Fingers: 1 on A, 2 on e.
What key is Em9 in?
In major keys, Em9 is the ii9 chord in D major and the vi9 in G major. It is diatonic to those keys, so it fits songs in any of them.
What is the difference between Em9 and Em7?
Em9 is Em7 (E, G, B and D) with F#, the 9th, added.