The Best E Minor Chord Progressions (with Charts & Video)!

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Are you ready to embark on a musical journey that will unleash soulful sounds through e minor chord progressions?

In the realm of music, chord progressions are the building blocks that shape a song’s overall mood, feel, and vibe.

They are like the secret sauce that adds that extra sprinkle of magic to your musical creations.

Get those fingers warmed up!

The E Minor Chord

To form the E minor chord, place your second finger on the second fret of the A string.

This finger serves as the anchor while we build the chord.

Next, press your third finger onto the second fret of the D string.

Once you’ve nailed the fingering, it’s time to infuse some life into your E minor chord.

Common Variations Of E Minor Chords And Their Fingerings

Now, let’s spice things up a bit! Like many chords on the guitar, E minor has various forms.

These variations can add a dash of flavor to your e minor chord progressions.

Here are a few popular ones:

E minor 7 (Em7):

There are four popular variations of this chord depending on how you want to use it and the feel of the progression of your chord pattern. 

How To Play Em7 Chord on Acoustic Guitar | 4 Variations

1st: Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the A string.

This is the easiest and most commonly used for those deep mellow dramatic sounds coupled with minor chords.

2nd: Place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the A string and your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the D string, next place your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the G string, and lastly, your pinkie on the 3rd fret of the high E string.

This is a great way to play the E minor 7 chord with a positive feel.

3rd: A bar chord for the advanced guitarist.

Bar 5 strings on the 7th fret using your index finger (starting from the A string up to the high E string).

Next, place your middle finger on the 8th fret of the B string, and lastly, your ring finger on the 9th fret of the D string.

This variation is primarily used for funky progressions or melodic plucking sounds.

4th: Another bar chord for the advanced guitarist.

Bar 5 strings on the 5th fret using your index finger (starting from the A string up to the high E string).

Next, place your ring finger on the 9th fret of the G string, and lastly, your pinkie on the 9th fret of the high E string.   

E minor 9 (Em9):

Place your index finger on the second fret of the A string and your middle finger on the second fret of the D string. Next place your ring finger on the 2nd fret of the high E string, and lastly, your pinkie on the 3rd fret of the B string.

Guitar Chords for Beginners - Em9

E minor add9 (Emadd9):

This is another simple yet great way to add diversity of tone to your E minor.

Start by placing your index finger on the 2nd fret of the A string. Then stretch your ring finger up to the 4th fret of the D string forming a power chord.

How to Play an E Minor Add 9 (Em(add9)) Chord on Guitar

These variations can give you a broader palette of sounds, adding depth and complexity to your e minor chord progressions and sparking creative ways to express yourself through music.

I hope you enjoy experimenting with them!

Soulful E Minor Chord Progression #1: The Classic E minor – A minor – B7

E minor Chord Progression #1 (Em Am B7 Em)

Widely embraced in music, this progression carries a depth of emotion and an irresistible groove that will captivate you and your audience.

The progression begins with the E minor chord, which we’ve already mastered.

Next, move your fingers to the A minor chord by placing your index finger on the 1st fret of the B string and your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the D string.

Lastly, your ring finger on the 2nd fret on the G string.

Keep strumming down from the A string for a smooth transition.

Finally, introduce the B7 chord by placing your index finger on the 1st fret of the D string, your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the A string, your ring finger on the 2nd fret of the G string, and your pinkie on the 2nd fret of the high E string.

The chord shapes looks like this:

E minor           A minor             B7

e|——-0————-0——————-2——–|

B|——-0————-1——————-0——–|

G|——-0————-2——————-2——–|

D|——-2————-2——————-1——–|

A|——-2————-0——————-2——–|

E|——-0——————————————-|

Captivating E Minor Chord Progression #2: E minor – G major – D major – A minor

This progression begins with the well-known key of E minor.

To transition to the G major chord, place your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the low E string, your index finger on the 2nd fret of the A string, and your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the high E string.

This change in scenery creates a subtle shift in attitude, adding a tinge of optimism and eagerness.

The D major chord comes after a powerful, flexible chord that offers steadiness and resolution.

The D major chord can be created by placing your index finger on the 2nd fret of the G string, your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the high E string, and your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the B string.

Finally, we reach the A minor chord, which returns us to the progression’s melancholy core.

Place your first finger on the first fret of the B string to play the A minor chord.

The chord shapes look like this:

E minor         G major           D major        A minor

e|——–0————3————–2————–0——–|

B|——–0————0————–3————–1——–|

G|——–0————0————–2————–2——–|

D|——–2————0————–0————–2——–|

A|——–2————2—————————————|

E|——–0————3—————————————-|

Groovy E Minor Chord Progression #3: E minor – C major – G major – D major

These Four Chords Sound AWESOME ... (Em, C, G, D)

Get ready to inject infectious grooves into your guitar playing with the third E minor chord progression.

This progression is characterized by its upbeat and groovy nature.

We start with the E minor chord.

Moving on, we transition to the C major chord.

Place your index finger on the first fret of the B string, your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the D string, and your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the A string.

The C major chord introduces a bright and optimistic element, adding a refreshing twist to the progression.

Next, we have the G major chord, a staple in the world of guitar playing.

With your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the low E string, your index finger on the 2nd fret of the A string, and your ring finger on the third fret of the high E string, strum from the low E string down.

The G major chord injects a sense of resolution and satisfaction, tying the progression together with a vibrant and uplifting tone.

Finally, we have the D major chord, a powerful and robust chord that commands attention.

Form the D major chord by placing your index finger on the 2nd fret of the G string, your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the high E string, and your ring finger on the third fret of the B string.

This chord serves as a stepping stone, propelling the groove forward with its energetic presence.

Again, the chord shapes look like this:

E minor        C major           G major         D major

e|——–0———–0—————3————–2——-|

B|——–0———–1—————0————–3——-|

G|——–0———–0—————0————–2——-|

D|——–2———–2—————0————–0——-|

A|——–2———–3—————2———————–|

E|——–0—————————-3———————–|

Emotional E Minor Chord Progression #4: E minor – B minor – C major – G major

With the fourth E minor chord sequence, we’ll enter a realm of emotional depth and reflection.

We begin with the E minor chord, which we are comfortable with.

We are strumming from the low E string down, placing your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the A string.

This chord establishes the tone for the emotional adventure we’re about to go on.

Moving on, we come upon the B minor chord.

This chord gives the progression a sense of tension and fragility.

Place your index finger on the 2nd fret of barring 5 strings starting from the A string up to the high E string, your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the B string, and your ring finger on the 4th fret of the D string and your pinkie of the 4th fret of the Gstring to make the B minor chord.

The B minor chord adds depth to the entire emotional landscape by creating a sense of yearning and contemplation.

Next are the C and G major chords which you’re already familiar with.

Here are the chord shapes:

E minor        B minor         C major        G major

e|——–0———–2————–0————–3——-|

B|——–0———–3————–1————–0——-|

G|——–0———–4————–0————–0——-|

D|——–2———–4————–2————–0——-|

A|——–2———–2————–3————–2——-|

E|——–0——————————————-3——-|

And if you want to take a deeper dive into chord progressions, you may want to check out this guitar chord progression book from Amazon to take your chord progression skills to the next level:

E Minor Chord Progressions Video Tutorials

We’ve got something special for our intermediate and advanced strummers out there.

Here are video tutorials focusing on e minor chord progressions that will may help sharpen your skills and broaden your musical vocabulary.

Same Chord Progression Played in 7 Different Ways. E minor Key!

Check out this guy played the same E minor chord progression in 7 different ways!

Chord Progressions Key of E Minor

This other video lesson showcases different E Minor chord progressions that may be helpful.

E Minor Chord Progressions: Conclusion

Incorporating these progressions into your guitar playing can unlock a world of musical possibilities.

But remember that practice is key to mastering any chord progression.

So take the time to familiarize yourself with each progression’s fingerings, strumming patterns, and transitions.

I hope this dive into e minor chord progressions has fueled your understanding of them and sparked a creative fire in your guitar playing.

And hey, we’d absolutely love to hear from you!

Your ideas, experiences, and musical journeys matter to us.

So, don’t be a stranger! Drop your thoughts, questions, or even your favorite e minor chord progression in the comment section.

And if you want to see our other chord progression posts, check out:

The Best R&B Chord Progressions on Guitar

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