Em7, minor seventh chord
E, G, B and D
- Root
- E
- Minor third
- G
- Perfect fifth
- B
- Minor seventh
- D
Formula
1 ♭3 5 ♭7 (3, 7, 10 half steps above E)
Fingering in root position
| Notes | E | G | B | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
E minor 7 inversions
E minor 7 has 3 inversions. Each one keeps the same notes and puts a different one at the bottom, so your hand can stay close to the chord before or after it.
Em7
Root position
| Notes | E | G | B | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Em7/G
First inversion
| Notes | G | B | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Em7/B
Second inversion
| Notes | B | D | E | G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Em7/D
Third inversion
| Notes | D | E | G | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
Keys with E minor 7
Roman numerals give a chord's place in a key: capitals for major chords, small letters for minor, ° for diminished. E minor 7 appears as:
- i7 in E minor
- vi7 in G major
- ii7 in D major
- iii7 in C major
- iv7 in B minor
- v7 in A minor
How E minor 7 is built
E is the root, G the minor third, B the perfect fifth and D the minor seventh.
A minor seventh chord is a minor chord plus the minor seventh, 10 half steps above the root. E minor 7 uses the same keys as G6.
Every chord takes every other letter of the alphabet, so the letters of E minor 7 are E, G, B, D. That is why it is spelled E, G, B and D.
Find E minor 7 yourself
Without looking at the diagrams, find the chord on the keyboard, then each inversion. Saying the notes out loud as you tap them helps them stick.
Step 1 of 4
Tap the notes of E minor 7, in any octave and any order.
Practice E minor 7 in real music
MasterPiano gives you new music to read at your level and listens as you play, through a MIDI keyboard or your device's microphone, marking each note right or wrong.
Start freeQuestions
What notes are in the E minor 7 chord?
E minor 7 (Em7) has four notes: E, G, B and D. E is the root, G the minor third, B the perfect fifth and D the minor seventh.
What fingers do you use for E minor 7 on piano?
In root position, play E, G, B and D with right hand fingers 1, 2, 3 and 5 (thumb, index finger, middle finger and little finger) and left hand fingers 5, 3, 2 and 1. The fingers change a little in each inversion; every inversion on this page shows its own.
What are the inversions of E minor 7?
E minor 7 has 3 inversions, one for each note other than the root at the bottom. First inversion (Em7/G): G, B, D and E. Second inversion (Em7/B): B, D, E and G. Third inversion (Em7/D): D, E, G and B.
What key is E minor 7 in?
E minor 7 is i7 in E minor, its home key. It also appears as vi7 in G major, ii7 in D major, iii7 in C major, iv7 in B minor and v7 in A minor.