Learn › E Minor 7 (Em7) Chord Inversions: All Four Positions
New Released in April 2026
E Minor 7 (Em7) Chord Inversions: All Four Positions
E minor 7th chord inversions: four positions, Em7, Em7/G, Em7/B and Em7/D. Same four notes (E G B D), a different one in the bass. Learn to spot each position at a glance, then use the nearest one to move between chords.
No account, no download. The demo has limited content. Advanced features are in ChordRunner Premium.
- MIDI keyboard
- Digital or acoustic piano
- Guitar
- Computer, phone or tablet
Em7 inversions on the piano
Root position starts on E, then G, B and D.
Root position: E G B D
1st inversion: G B D E
2nd inversion: B D E G
3rd inversion: D E G B
- Root position: starts on E, a white key; all white keys
- 1st inversion: starts on G, a white key; all white keys
- 2nd inversion: starts on B, a white key; all white keys
- 3rd inversion: starts on D, a white key; all white keys
Move through Em7 → Am7 → D7 without jumping
Each chord uses the position nearest to the one before, so the hand barely moves and most notes step by one or two keys.
- From Em7 to Am7: B → A, D → C, E stays, G stays.
- From Am7 to D7: A stays, C stays, E → D, G → F#.
Spot each Em7 inversion in one look
Look for the two notes that sit next to each other: none in root position, at the top in the 1st inversion, in the middle in the 2nd, at the bottom in the 3rd.
| Position | Bass | Name | Figured bass | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | E | Em7 | 7 | no neighbours: four notes evenly stacked (minor 3rd + major 3rd + minor 3rd) |
| 1st inversion | G | Em7/G | 6/5 | neighbours at the top (major 3rd + minor 3rd + major 2nd) |
| 2nd inversion | B | Em7/B | 4/3 | neighbours in the middle (minor 3rd + major 2nd + minor 3rd) |
| 3rd inversion | D | Em7/D | 4/2 | neighbours at the bottom (major 2nd + minor 3rd + major 3rd) |
Fingering for Em7 in every position
| Position | Right hand | Left hand |
|---|---|---|
| Root position (E G B D) | 1-2-3-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
| 1st inversion (G B D E) | 1-2-3-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
| 2nd inversion (B D E G) | 1-2-3-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
| 3rd inversion (D E G B) | 1-2-3-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
Keep the same four fingers for all positions; only the notes under them change.
Practise Em7 in every position
ChordRunner accepts every voicing, so you can drill all four positions of Em7 between other chords. MIDI keyboard or microphone.
Play the demoCommon questions
How many inversions does Em7 have?
Four positions in total, because it has four notes: root position plus three inversions, Em7/G, Em7/B and Em7/D.
How do I recognise the 3rd inversion of Em7?
The seventh, D, is in the bass and sits right next to the root E above it: the pair of neighbouring notes is at the bottom.
Can I practise Em7 inversions with a MIDI keyboard or microphone?
Yes. ChordRunner detects a USB MIDI keyboard automatically and also hears a piano through the microphone; every inversion of Em7 counts.
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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