E minor ninth (Em9) chord on ukulele
- Notes
- EGBDF♯
- Formula
- 1♭35♭79
How to play Em9 on ukulele
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Shape 1 · fret 2
no 5th (B)
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Shape 2 · fret 7
no 5th (B)
-
Shape 3 · fret 3
no 5th (B)
-
Shape 4 · fret 6
no 5th (B)
-
Shape 5 · fret 7
no 5th (B)
The Em9 has 5 notes, and on ukulele only 4 fit at a time. The shapes on this page leave out: 5th (B). That is standard practice: the 5th goes first (it barely changes the sound) and, if a string is still missing, the root, which the bass player usually covers.
Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky. x = do not play the string, o = open string. The coloured dot is the root (E).
Em9 inversions on ukulele
The same Em9 with another chord note in the bass (the lowest note that sounds). The notes stay the same, but the colour changes, and the bass line can move by step from one chord to the next. In a chord symbol, the bass comes after the slash.
3rd (G) in the bass1st inversion · Em9/G
3rd (G) in the bass1st inversion · Em9/G
7th (D) in the bass3rd inversion · Em9/D
About the minor ninth chord
A minor chord with a seventh and a ninth: velvety and modern. Common in neo-soul, R&B, jazz and bossa, as a ii chord or as a "vamp" chord that keeps cycling while the melody wanders.
Notes and intervals of Em9
Em9 (E minor ninth) is built from 5 notes. Each one fills a degree of the chord:
- E · 1 · root
- G · ♭3 · minor third
- B · 5 · perfect fifth
- D · ♭7 · minor seventh
- F♯ · 9 · ninth
Other E chords
Minor ninth: other roots
Frequently asked questions
How do you play the Em9 chord on ukulele?
Em9 (E minor ninth) has 5 fingerings on this page, from easiest to hardest. Each diagram shows the fingers, the open strings (o) and the strings you do not play (x), and you can hear every shape.
What notes are in Em9?
The notes of Em9 are E, G, B, D, F♯. The formula is 1 · ♭3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9: root, minor third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, ninth.
What does Em9 mean?
Em9 is the chord symbol for E minor ninth. A minor chord with a seventh and a ninth: velvety and modern. Common in neo-soul, R&B, jazz and bossa, as a ii chord or as a "vamp" chord that keeps cycling while the melody wanders.
Can I play Em9 on other instruments?
Yes. Em9 also has a page on guitar, on cavaquinho, with the fingerings for each instrument.