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Guitar chords · Minor 9th

Em9 chord on guitar

Em9 (E minor 9th) has five notes: E, G, B, D and F♯, the , ♭3, 5, ♭7 and 9.

Shapes

How to play Em9

Strum a shape to hear it, or pick it one string at a time. R marks the ; the other numbers are the chord tones.

Em9 has an , and one : the A shape at 7. A movable shape keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • Open

    59EBDGBF♯
  • A shape · fret 7

    5fr××R♭3♭79EGDF♯
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes Em9 minor 9th

A minor 9th chord adds the 9th to a minor . It sounds smooth and moody, the sound of neo-soul, R&B and jazz ballads. Keep the ♭3rd, the ♭7th and the 9th; the 5th can go.

  • 1Root: the note the chord is named after. Keep it.
  • 3Essential: makes the chord what it is. Never drop it.
  • 5Optional: drop it first when you run out of fingers.

The ♭3rd, the ♭7th and the 9th make Em9 a minor 9th chord; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. ERroot
  2. G♭3essential
  3. B5optional
  4. D♭7essential
  5. F♯9essential
EADGBE0135791215EEEEEEEEEF♯GBDF♯GBDF♯GBDF♯GBDGBDF♯GBDF♯GBDF♯GBDF♯G
  • E, the root
  • Other chord tones

Em9 often leads to A7 and then D: the ii9–V7–I of D major.

Keys

Keys with Em9

Em9 belongs to four keys: G major (vi9), D major (ii9), E minor (i9) and B minor (iv9).

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Slash chords

Em9 over another bass note

A keeps Em9 on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • Em9/G

    Em9 with its ♭3rd, G, in the bass.

  • Em9/B

    Em9 with its 5th, B, in the bass.

  • Em9/D

    Em9 with its ♭7th, D, in the bass.

Questions

Em9, in short

What notes are in the Em9 chord?
Em9 (E minor 9th) has five notes: E, G, B, D and F♯, the , ♭3, 5, ♭7 and 9.
How do you play Em9 on guitar?
Em9 has an , and one : the A shape at 7.
What key is Em9 in?
Em9 belongs to four keys: G major (vi9), D major (ii9), E minor (i9) and B minor (iv9).
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