E Minor 7th
Em7
Notes
E · G · B · D
Intervals
- RootE (1P)
- Minor 3rdG (3m)
- Perfect 5thB (5P)
- Minor 7thD (7m)
Fretboard
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Voicings & shapes
Drop-2 voicings (12)
Drop-3 voicings (8)
Shell voicings (2)
About
The E minor 7th (E–G–B–D) combines a minor triad with a minor seventh. The D softens the minor triad, giving m7 a more open, fluid sound than a plain minor chord. The G and D are the two essential tones — together they define both the minor quality and the seventh extension; the 5th can be dropped. In jazz, m7 is the standard ii in major ii–V–I progressions (Em7 → A7 → DMaj7) and a common tonic color in modal contexts. In funk and soul, it provides warmth without the tension of a dominant chord. Compared to Em, m7 is less tense and more harmonically relaxed; compared to Em9, less ornamental.
Chord diagrams
E Minor 7th voicing charts — tap a sheet to open it full size to save or print.
Similar chords
Chords sharing two or more notes with this one, ranked by overlap.
Scales containing this chord
- E Blues (deg 1)
- E Dorian (I)
- E Minor Pentatonic (deg 1)
- E Natural Minor (I)
- E Phrygian (I)
- A Dorian (V)
- A Mixolydian (V)
- A Natural Minor (V)
- A♭ Diminished (deg 6)
- B Diminished (deg 4)
- B Harmonic Minor (IV)
- B Locrian (IV)
- B Natural Minor (IV)
- B Phrygian (IV)
- C Lydian (III)
- C Major (III)
- D Diminished (deg 2)
- D Dorian (II)
- D Major (II)
- D Melodic Minor (II)
- D Mixolydian (II)
- D♭ Locrian (III)
- F Diminished (deg 8)
- F Lydian (VII)
- F♯ Locrian (VII)
- F♯ Phrygian (VII)
- G Lydian (VI)
- G Major (VI)
- G Major Pentatonic (deg 5)
- G Mixolydian (VI)
Scales whose notes include every chord tone. The Roman numeral (or scale degree) marks the chord root’s position in the scale.