Skip to content

Guitar chords · Minor major 7th

Em(maj7) chord on guitar

Em(maj7) (E minor major 7th) has four notes: E, G, B and D♯, the , ♭3, 5 and 7.

Shapes

How to play Em(maj7)

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

Em(maj7) 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

    57EBD♯GBE
  • A shape · fret 7

    7fr×R57♭35EBD♯GB
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes Em(maj7) minor major 7th

A minor major puts a major 7th on a minor . The 5th between its ♭3rd and its 7th makes it dark and tense, the sound of spy themes and of the falling line Am, Am(maj7), Am7, Am6.

  • 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 and the 7th make Em(maj7) a minor major ; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. ERroot
  2. G♭3essential
  3. B5optional
  4. D♯7essential
EADGBE0135791215EEEEEEEEEGBD♯GBD♯GBD♯GBD♯GBD♯GBD♯GBGBD♯G
  • E, the root
  • Other chord tones

Em(maj7) usually sits in a falling line from Em: Em, Em(maj7), Em7, Em6, as one voice steps down a at a time.

Keys

Keys with Em(maj7)

Em(maj7) belongs to one key: E minor (i(maj7), ).

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

Em(maj7) over another bass note

A keeps Em(maj7) on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • Em(maj7)/G

    Em(maj7) with its ♭3rd, G, in the bass: the first inversion.

  • Em(maj7)/B

    Em(maj7) with its 5th, B, in the bass: the second inversion.

  • Em(maj7)/D♯

    Em(maj7) with its 7th, D♯, in the bass: the third inversion.

Questions

Em(maj7), in short

What notes are in the Em(maj7) chord?
Em(maj7) (E minor major 7th) has four notes: E, G, B and D♯, the , ♭3, 5 and 7.
How do you play Em(maj7) on guitar?
Em(maj7) has an , and one : the A shape at 7.
What key is Em(maj7) in?
Em(maj7) belongs to one key: E minor (i(maj7), ).
All guitar chords