Em/D on guitar: E minor with D in the bass
Em/D is Em with D in the bass. That D is the chord's 7th, so what you hear is Em7 in 3rd inversion (Em7/D), with the notes E, G, B, D.
- Notes
- EGBD
- Bass
- D 7th of the chord · Em7
How to play Em/D on guitar
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Shape 1 · open strings
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Shape 2 · fret 4
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Shape 3 · fret 12 · barre
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Shape 4 · fret 9 · barre
Where Em/D shows up
The 7th in the bass wants to step down. The most common path: Em → Em/D → C, with the bass walking down E, D, C.
Other positions of Em
Frequently asked questions
What does Em/D mean?
Em/D reads "Em over D": you play Em and the lowest note is D. In a chord symbol, whatever comes after the slash is always the bass.
What is the difference between Em/D and Em?
Em/D has one more note: D in the bass, which is the 7th. That is why it sounds like Em7 in 3rd inversion.
How do you play Em/D on guitar?
The shapes on this page go from easiest to hardest. In all of them D is the lowest note; the low strings that would sound below it are not played (x).