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