How to Play an E Minor Chord on the Ukulele

In this series of posts on beginner ukulele chords we’ve looked at three major chords (C, F and G) and one minor chord: A minor. In this part we’ll be looking at another minor chord: E minor.

As you’ll remember from our previous article on the A minor chord, all minor chords need to contain a note that is three frets above the chord note (also know as a minor third). With the chord note being E, the chord E minor must contain the note G.

There are two ways you can play the E chord on the ukulele in the first position and we’ll be taking a look at how to play both of them.

E Minor Chord: The First Way

The three finger version of the E minor chord – or Em for short – is played like this: fret the C string at the fourth fret with your ring finger, the E string at the third fret with your middle finger and the A string at the second fret with your index finger.

The remaining string (G) should remain open to give you the first way of playing the Em chord.

E Minor Chord: The Other Way

As you might have noticed, the first way of playing the Em chord has two G notes in it: at the third fret of the E string and the open G string.

Because you only need to hear the G note once, you can remove your middle finger from the E string and let it ring open (which will give you two E notes in the chord instead).

This might string you as being an easier way to play the chord – since it takes one less finger to play – but that is not true.

When you remove your middle finger from the E string you’ll notice that the of it height above the fretboard is increased. That means you have to arc your fingers even higher to let the note ring clearly. This is more tricky, so most people prefer to play the chord the first way we covered.