Em chord (E minor) on bass
Em (E minor) has three notes: E, G and B. Its formula is 1, b3, 5. In major keys, Em is the ii chord in D major, the iii in C major and the vi in G major.
How to play Em on bass
Low notes close together sound muddy, so bass players spread a chord out and leave notes out. Forms with a 3rd or 7th sound clear from about the E string's 8th fret up, so they start there; root and 5th stays low. These forms put the root on the E string; the same shapes work from the A string.
Fingers: 1 on E, 1 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 1 on G.
Fingers: 1 on A.
Fingers: 1 on A, 1 on D.
Fingers: 1 on E, 1 on G.
Hear it and see every shape in ScaleSpace →
| Symbol | Em |
|---|---|
| Also written | Emin, E- |
| Notes | E G B |
| Formula | 1 b3 5 |
| Intervals | root, minor third, perfect fifth |
| Type | Minor chord |
Em across the neck
Bass · 4-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 0 E (1), fret 3 G (flat 3), fret 7 B (5), fret 12 E (1), fret 15 G (flat 3), fret 19 B (5), fret 24 E (1).
- A string: fret 2 B (5), fret 7 E (1), fret 10 G (flat 3), fret 14 B (5), fret 19 E (1), fret 22 G (flat 3).
- D string: fret 2 E (1), fret 5 G (flat 3), fret 9 B (5), fret 14 E (1), fret 17 G (flat 3), fret 21 B (5).
- G string: fret 0 G (flat 3), fret 4 B (5), fret 9 E (1), fret 12 G (flat 3), fret 16 B (5), fret 21 E (1), fret 24 G (flat 3).
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Questions
What notes are in the Em chord?
Em (E minor) has three notes: E, G and B. Its formula is 1, b3, 5. E is the root, G is the minor third and B is the perfect fifth.
How do you play Em on bass?
Bass players spread it out rather than strum it. The simplest form is the root and 10th: 1 b10, root on the E string, fret 12. Fingers: 1 on E, 1 on G.
What key is Em in?
In major keys, Em is the ii chord in D major, the iii in C major and the vi in G major. It is diatonic to those keys, so it fits songs in any of them.
What is the difference between Em and E?
Em has a minor 3rd, G. E major raises it a half step to G#. The root and 5th stay the same.