The Open Em7 Chord for Guitar

The Formula of the Chord

The Em7 (E minor 7) chord is a rich and soulful chord often used in various styles of music, from rock to jazz to folk. The formula for a minor 7 chord consists of four intervals: the root (R), the minor third (b3), the perfect fifth (5), and the minor seventh (b7). For the E minor 7 chord, the specific notes involved are:

• Root (R): E
• Minor Third (b3): G
• Perfect Fifth (5): B
• Minor Seventh (b7): D

In the open Em7 chord that uses one finger, the voicing we play includes these notes distributed across the strings as follows:

• 6th string (E): Open E (R)
• 5th string (A): B (5)
• 4th string (D): Open D (b7)
• 3rd string (G): Open G (b3)
• 2nd string (B): Open B (5)
• 1st string (E): Open E (R)

How to Play the Chord

To play the open Em7 chord using one finger, follow these step-by-step instructions:

1. Middle Finger: Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 5th string (A string). This will produce the note B (5).

Make sure your finger is pressing down firmly just behind the fret to get a clear sound. The remaining strings should be played open:

• 6th string (E): Open, producing the note E (R)
• 4th string (D): Open, producing the note D (b7)
• 3rd string (G): Open, producing the note G (b3)
• 2nd string (B): Open, producing the note B (5)
• 1st string (E): Open, producing the note E (R)

Strum all six strings together to play the Em7 chord. The combination of open strings and the fretted note creates a full and resonant sound typical of the Em7 chord.

Chord Visualisation

Below is the tablature to help you visualise the Em7 chord:

Tablature:

e|---0---| (Open String)
B|---0---| (Open String)
G|---0---| (Open String)
D|---0---| (Open String)
A|---2---| (Middle Finger)
E|---0---| (Open String)

By following these instructions, you should be able to play the open Em7 chord using one finger effectively.