E Minor 9th
Em9
Notes
E · G · B · D · F♯
Intervals
- RootE (1P)
- Minor 3rdG (3m)
- Perfect 5thB (5P)
- Minor 7thD (7m)
- Major 9thF♯ (9M)
Fretboard
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Voicings & shapes
Rootless voicings (A / B form) (4)
About
The Em9 minor ninth (E–G–B–D–F♯) extends a minor 7 with a ninth. The F♯ sits above the D and adds an expressive, singing quality. The essential tones are the G (minor identity), D (seventh extension), and F♯ (defining color); the 5th can be dropped to keep voicings clear. m9 chords appear frequently in jazz, neo-soul, and ambient styles as tonic or pre-dominant harmony — for example as ii in a major ii–V–I (Em9 → A9 → DMaj9). Compared to Em7, the added 9th gives more emotional dimension without increasing tension.
Chord diagrams
E Minor 9th 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 Dorian (I)
- E Natural Minor (I)
- A Dorian (V)
- A Mixolydian (V)
- B Harmonic Minor (IV)
- B Natural Minor (IV)
- B Phrygian (IV)
- C Lydian (III)
- D Major (II)
- D Mixolydian (II)
- D♭ Locrian (III)
- F♯ Locrian (VII)
- F♯ Phrygian (VII)
- G Lydian (VI)
- G Major (VI)
Scales whose notes include every chord tone. The Roman numeral (or scale degree) marks the chord root’s position in the scale.