Guitar chord

E Minor Add9 Open Chord

An open Emadd9 shape that adds F# to the open E minor sound.

Symbol
Emadd9
Chord tones
E, G, B, F#
Formula
1 b3 5 9
Tuning
Standard
Frets, low to high
0 2 4 0 0 0
Fingers, low to high
- 2 4 - - -

Chord fingering diagram

Read the chart vertically with the nut at the top. X means mute the string, markers above the nut are played open, and numbered markers show fretting-hand fingers.

E Minor Add9 Open Chord chord fingering diagram
E Minor Add9 Open Chord guitar chord fingering chart in standard tuning.

How to play Emadd9

Fretting hand

Place finger 2 on the 5th string at fret 2 and finger 4 on the 4th string at fret 4. Fret each note close behind the fret wire without resting directly on it.

Clean sound check

Let the 6th string, 3rd string, 2nd string, and 1st string ring open. Arch the fretting fingers so their sides do not silence neighboring strings, then pick every sounding string separately.

Sound and use

Emadd9 keeps the minor third and adds the ninth for a more spacious minor color suited to arpeggiated parts, ambient textures, and sustained rhythm playing.

More E chords

Keep the root fixed and compare how the third, seventh, suspended tones, or added tones change the sound.