Guitar Em9 chord diagram
Em9 is one of the essential Guitar chords. On Chordier, this chord appears in 2 different songs. On this page, you can find how to play Em9, alternative positions, and core chord transitions.
To play Em9, follow these steps: Place middle finger on A string fret 2. Place pinky on E string fret 2.
Tips
- Place A string with your middle finger and E string with your pinky with a vertical finger angle so nearby strings ring clearly without buzz.
- On A string, press fret 2 with your middle finger close to the fret wire (not on top) for a cleaner tone.
- To play Em9 cleanly, every involved string should ring clearly. Make sure both fretted strings (A string and E string) and open strings sound clean. After shaping the chord, pluck each string one by one and confirm there is no muted or buzzing note.
Chord Theory
- Notes
- E - G - B - D - F#
- Intervals
- 1 - b3 - 5 - b7 - 9
- Chord Type
- Minor 9 — warm and jazzy
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Voicings
- 2
Alternative Positions
Different ways to play Em9 on the fretboard, from beginner-friendly to advanced voicings.
Guitar Em9 chord diagramx-5-4-x-5-3
Easy Transition Chords
These chords have similar finger positions to Em9, making them ideal for practice transitions.
1. Em9 → Em7 chord transition
To move from Em9 to Em7, follow these steps:
- While playing Em9, lift your pinky from E string fret 2.
- Keep middle finger on A string fret 2.
2. Em9 → Baug chord transition
To move from Em9 to Baug, follow these steps:
- While playing Em9, lift your pinky from E string fret 2.
- Keep middle finger on A string fret 2.
- Place index finger on D string fret 1.
3. Em9 → E7 chord transition
To move from Em9 to E7, follow these steps:
- While playing Em9, lift your pinky from E string fret 2.
- Keep middle finger on A string fret 2.
- Place index finger on G string fret 1.
4. Em9 → Em/D chord transition
To move from Em9 to Em/D, follow these steps:
- While playing Em9, first lift your middle finger and pinky.
5. Em9 → B7 chord transition
To move from Em9 to B7, follow these steps:
- Keep middle finger on A string fret 2.
- Keep pinky on E string fret 2.
- Place index finger on D string fret 1.
- Place ring finger on G string fret 2.
6. Em9 → Badd9 chord transition
To move from Em9 to Badd9, follow these steps:
- Keep middle finger on A string fret 2.
- Keep pinky on E string fret 2.
- Place index finger on D string fret 1.
- Place ring finger on B string fret 2.
Most Common Transitions
The most frequent chord transitions from Em9 across songs on this site.
1. Em9 → Dmaj9 chord transition
To move from Em9 to Dmaj9, follow these steps:
- While playing Em9, lift your middle finger from A string fret 2.
- Lift your pinky from E string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 5.
- Place index finger on D string fret 2.
On Chordier, songs containing Em9 use the transition to Dmaj9 at 80%. You can practice this transition in 1 different songs.
2. Em9 → Em chord transition
To move from Em9 to Em, follow these steps:
- While playing Em9, lift your pinky from E string fret 2.
- Keep middle finger on A string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on D string fret 2.
On Chordier, songs containing Em9 use the transition to Em at 6.7%. You can practice this transition in 1 different songs.
3. Em9 → Bm chord transition
To move from Em9 to Bm, follow these steps:
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 3.
- Slide your pinky from E string fret 2 to G string fret 4.
- Place index finger on E string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on D string fret 4.
On Chordier, songs containing Em9 use the transition to Bm at 3.3%. You can practice this transition in 1 different songs.
Songs Using Em9 Chord
Popular songs that feature the Em9 chord, perfect for practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How difficult is the Em9 chord on Guitar?
Guitar Em9 is easy to start with. The shape covers 1 frets. Short daily repetitions will make transitions smoother.
Is there a simpler voicing for Em9?
You can try an easier Guitar voicing for Em9. The alternative voicing uses fingering x-5-4-x-5-3. Use this shape first, then return to the full form as control improves.
What are the most common chord changes from Em9 on Guitar?
Guitar progressions often pair Em9 with Dmaj9 and Em7. Based on our catalog data, Em9 -> Dmaj9 is tracked 24 times across 1 songs (80% share), while Em9 -> Em7 appears 3 times across 1 songs (10% share).
Can you name songs that feature Em9?
In our catalog, America - A Horse With No Name Chords is one of 2 songs that include the Em9 chord.