Root position Em7
E – G – B – D
Right hand 1-2-3-5Left hand 5-3-2-1
Em7 Chord on Piano
Em7 E G B D Formula 1 b3 5 b7 4 notes
Notes
What notes are in the Em7 chord?
The Em7 chord has 4 notes: E, G, B, D. It is the minor triad with a minor seventh on top (10 half steps above E).
| Note | Interval from the root | Half steps |
|---|---|---|
| E | Root | 0 |
| G | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| B | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| D | Minor 7th | 10 |
Inversions and fingering
Every way to play Em7
The same notes in a different order. The lowest note changes the name after the slash; the fingering below is the usual one - right hand from the lowest key up, left hand from the lowest key up too.
1st inversion Em7/G
G – B – D – E
Right hand 1-2-3-5Left hand 5-4-2-1
The piano studio names these keys G6: the same notes, read from another root.
2nd inversion Em7/B
B – D – E – G
Right hand 1-2-3-5Left hand 5-3-2-1
3rd inversion Em7/D
D – E – G – B
Right hand 1-2-3-5Left hand 5-3-2-1
In real music
Songs that use Em7
Pieces from the GOONS sheet music library where Em7 holds for at least two bars of our arrangement (read from the score, root in the bass).
Where it lives
Keys and scales with Em7
Every key where Em7 is one of the seven chords, with its Roman numeral, and the scales whose notes include all of it - the ones to improvise over it.
In these keys
Scales that contain all its notes
Questions
Frequently asked
What notes are in the Em7 chord?
The Em7 chord (Em7) is made of E, G, B, D. Its formula is 1 b3 5 b7 - the root, then the intervals of a minor 7th chord.
How do you play Em7 on the piano?
Put your right thumb on E and play the other notes with fingers 1-2-3-5. With the left hand, use fingers 5-3-2-1 from the lowest key up.
What are the inversions of Em7?
root position Em7 (E G B D); 1st inversion Em7/G (G B D E); 2nd inversion Em7/B (B D E G); 3rd inversion Em7/D (D E G B).
Play it for real
Hold Em7 and build a progression on it
The GOONS piano studio has up to 88 keys, real piano samples, MIDI keyboard support, chord pads in any key and a sequencer. It comes with the GOONS Studio subscription - start with the 7-day free trial, no card required.