Em7 chord
E minor seventh. The minor seventh chord: a minor triad with a minor seventh added. It sounds soft and smooth, and it is the usual ii, iii and vi chord of major keys.
Click a note to hear it
- Notes
- E G B D
- Formula
- 1 ♭3 5 ♭7
- Intervals
- P1 m3 P5 m7
- Also written
- Emin7 · E-7
Notes in Em7
Em7 is spelled E G B D: four notes stacked from the root E.
| Note | Interval above E | Role | Formula |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | root | 1 | |
| m3 | third | ♭3 | |
| P5 | fifth | 5 | |
| m7 | seventh | ♭7 |
Inversions
Putting a different chord tone in the bass gives each inversion. The chord is the same; the bass note changes how it sounds and what it can lead to.
| Position | Notes, low to high | Symbol | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | E G B D | Em7 | |
| First inversion | G B D E | Em7/G | |
| Second inversion | B D E G | Em7/B | |
| Third inversion | D E G B | Em7/D |
On the piano
The root position voicing, with every chord tone lit in its own colour. Click a key to hear it.
On the guitar
Em7 in standard tuning. The open shape comes first; the barre shapes slide anywhere on the neck. Strings run from the lowest (left) to the highest (right); X means do not play that string.
Open
A-shape barre at fret 7
What it sounds like
Cm7 is C, E♭, G and B♭: a minor triad with a minor seventh added. The minor third darkens the sound, and the minor seventh adds a soft dissonance against the root. Because the seventh falls by step to the third of the next chord, the chord has a gentle forward motion and sounds smooth rather than harsh. Its tension is mild and its colour is dark and warm. The chord sounds more settled than a dominant seventh, and it often leads toward a dominant.
How it is used
In major keys the minor seventh is the usual chord on ii, iii and vi, written ii7, iii7 and vi7, and ii7 is the standard predominant. In jazz, ii7 leads to V7 and then to the tonic, so ii7, V7, Imaj7 is the core progression. Minor sevenths also appear as i7 and iv7 in minor keys. They are common in funk and soul, where a minor seventh often sits on the tonic. The chord typically moves toward the dominant.
How it is built
The minor seventh is a root with a minor third, a perfect fifth and a minor seventh, 0, 3, 7 and 10 semitones above the root. Common symbols are Cm7, Cmin7, C-7 and Cmi7. Cm7 has the same notes as E♭6, which is E♭, G, B♭ and C, so the bass decides the name. The seventh is the only note added to the minor triad, so Cm7 contains Cm. The inversions are Cm7/E♭, Cm7/G and Cm7/B♭.
Which keys contain Em7
Em7 is a diatonic chord in these keys, where the numeral shows its job:
Scales that fit Em7
Scales that contain every note of the chord, so they can be played over it:
- C major
- C Lydian
- C♯ Locrian
- D major
- D melodic minor
- D Dorian
- D Mixolydian
- E natural minor
- E Dorian
- E Phrygian
- F Lydian
- F♯ Phrygian
- F♯ Locrian
- G major
Other E chords
How to practise it
Play Dm7, G7 and Cmaj7 as ii, V and I in C, with the seventh of Dm7, C, falling to B, the third of G7. Repeat the pattern in F major with Gm7, C7 and Fmaj7, where the seventh of Gm7, F, falls to E, the third of C7. Listen for the falling step each time.
Further reading
- Seventh Chords and How They Resolve in Tonal HarmonyHarmony · 7 min
- Chord Symbols Explained: Major, Minor, Seventh and Slash ChordsHarmony · 8 min
- The ii V I Progression in Major, Minor and Jazz StylesHarmony · 6 min
Questions
What notes are in a Em7 chord?
Em7 contains E, G, B, D. That is the root, third, fifth, seventh of the chord.
How do you spell E minor seventh?
Stack the intervals P1, m3, P5, m7 above E: E, G, B, D.
What other symbols mean Em7?
Lead sheets also write it Emin7, E-7. They are the same chord.
What does the 7 add to a minor chord?
It adds a minor seventh, B♭ in Cm, ten semitones above the root. The added note turns the minor triad into a softer, more coloured chord with a mild pull downward. The chord keeps its minor third, so it stays minor, while the seventh adds smoothness and a gentle tension.
Is Cm7 the same as E♭6?
Yes, in pitch. Cm7 is C, E♭, G and B♭, and E♭6 is E♭, G, B♭ and C. The notes are the same, so the chords sound alike in a block. The name depends on the bass and the function. A writer names the chord after the note that acts as its root, which is usually the bass.
Why does the minor seventh chord resolve?
Its seventh, B♭, is a dissonance that falls by step to the third of the next chord. In a ii7 to V7 move, the seventh of Dm7, C, falls to B, the third of G7. This fall gives the progression its direction.