Learn › E Minor 7th Chord on Piano (Em7)

New Released in April 2026

E Minor 7th Chord on Piano (Em7)

To play Em7 on the piano, press E, G, B, D together: root, minor third, fifth and minor seventh. Take Em and add D. Here you will find its inversions, both hands and the chords it belongs with.

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Em7 E G B D

Where Em7 goes

Em7 is the ii chord of D major, the iii of C major and the vi of G major.
As ii in a ii-V-I it starts the most common jazz cadence: Em7 → A7 → Dmaj7.
Em7 has the same notes as G6 (G B D E): with E in the bass it is Em7, with G in the bass it is G6.

ii-V-I: Em7 → A7 → Dmaj7 · Em

E minor 7th chord inversions

Move E up an octave for the 1st inversion, then G for the 2nd, then B for the 3rd.

Em7 E G B D

Root position: E G B D

Em7 G B D E

1st inversion: G B D E

Em7 B D E G

2nd inversion: B D E G

Em7 D E G B

3rd inversion: D E G B

How to practise Em7

Start in root position: E, G, B, D, four times, eyes on the symbol.
Climb the four positions: E G B D, then G B D E, B D E G and D E G B, and back down.
Loop Em7 → A7 → Dmaj7 until the change into and out of Em7 is clean.
Finally meet it in random order between other chords, with a check on every note.

A few minutes every day on Em7 beat one long session a week.

Four 7th chords on E

One note changes and the chord gets a new name.

Chord	Notes	What changes
E7	E G# B D	major 3rd, minor 7th
Emaj7	E G# B D#	major 3rd, major 7th
Em7	E G B D	minor 3rd, minor 7th
Em7b5	E G Bb D	minor 3rd, flat 5th, minor 7th
Edim7	E G Bb Db	minor 3rd, flat 5th, 7th one key lower again

Playing Em7 with each hand

Hand	E	G	B	D
Right hand	1 (thumb)	2	3	5 (little)
Left hand	5 (little)	3	2	1 (thumb)

Play Em7 broken first, E, G, B, D one by one, then together: a wrong key stands out.

The light version of Em7

Em7 E G D

Drop the fifth and keep E G D: root, third and seventh. Pianists use this shell voicing in the left hand, because those three notes already say "Em7".

ChordRunner showing a chord block while hands play the piano

Make Em7 automatic

ChordRunner sends Em7 at you between other chords and checks every note you play. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.

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All piano chords · Piano chord chart

Common questions

What is the difference between Em7 and Em?

Em7 adds one note to the Em triad: D, the minor seventh. That fourth note is what makes it a seventh chord.

Can I play Em7 with three notes?

Yes. Leave out the fifth and play E G D: root, third and seventh. It still sounds like Em7 and is easier for the left hand.

Where does Em7 go?

Em7 is the ii chord of D major, the iii of C major and the vi of G major. As ii in a ii-V-I it starts the most common jazz cadence: Em7 → A7 → Dmaj7.

Can I practise Em7 with a MIDI keyboard?

Yes. In ChordRunner a USB MIDI keyboard is detected automatically, and an acoustic piano works through the microphone. Em7 counts in any inversion, as long as E, G, B, D sound together.

Your instrument is the controller.

ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.

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E Minor 7th Chord on Piano (Em7)

Where Em7 goes

E minor 7th chord inversions

How to practise Em7

Four 7th chords on E

Playing Em7 with each hand

The light version of Em7

Make Em7 automatic

Common questions

What is the difference between Em7 and Em?

Can I play Em7 with three notes?

Where does Em7 go?

Can I practise Em7 with a MIDI keyboard?

Your instrument is the controller.

Keep learning

Piano Chord Chart: Every Chord in All 12 Keys

E7 Chord on Piano (E Dominant 7th)

E Major 7th Chord on Piano (Emaj7)

E Half-Diminished Chord on Piano (Em7b5)

E Diminished 7th Chord on Piano (Edim7)

E Minor Chord on Piano (Em)