Em7 is E, G, B and D. It keeps the triad and adds the .
In the pair below, the flat 7th replaces a repeated root. Compare with Em7 to hear that one note change.
One repeated root moves down a whole step to the minor seventh. The other notes stay the same.
A common place to use Em7 is the start of a ii–V. It moves to , the dominant chord a fourth higher.
Also written Emin7, E-7 or E minor 7.
Em7 in 3rd inversion puts D in the bass instead of E, the 7th of the chord. The notes are the same; what changes is what the bass line does, which is most of why you would reach for it — it lets the lowest voice move by step where the root would have jumped.
4 of Em7’s 24 shapes do this:x5545x10-x-9-9-8-x10-10-9-9-x-xx-x-12-12-12-15
Em7 is the ii of D major: it leads to the dominant a fourth higher. ii–Vs can be chained so each dominant leads to the next ii, and each minor chord’s seventh falls a half step to the next dominant’s third.
Listen for: One line walks down a half step per chord through the whole chain, and holds on the last as the major seventh.
Em7 has exactly the notes of G6. Hold the shape and put the key’s root under it, and the vi chord becomes the I. That is why the vi can stand in for the home chord.
Listen for: Only the bass moves, up a minor third. The four notes above it never change.
Em7 is the vi of the basic turnaround in G major. In jazz it is usually replaced by an altered dominant on the same root.
When a minor ii–V lands on Em7 and the chord lasts two bars, the second bar can turn it into Em6 or a minor-major seventh, melody permitting.
In which keys. Every note of Em7 belongs to C major, D major, E minor, G major, A minor and B minor.
Contains Em7 and adds eleventh.
Contains Em7 and adds eleventh and sharp eleventh.
Contains Em7 and adds ninth, eleventh and flat thirteenth.
Contains Em7 and adds ninth, eleventh and thirteenth.
Contains Em7 and adds flat ninth, eleventh and flat thirteenth.
The common shapes and the derived voicings come from different places, and both are explained in how this site is built.
Shows each chord the way this style would voice it, and marks which of its alternatives belong to the idiom.