E minor ninth (Em9) chord on piano

Minor ninth chord (a minor seventh plus a major ninth) on E: the notes of the Em9 chord are E – G – B – D – F♯.

Full chord: E4 – G4 – B4 – D5 – F♯5

What the Em9 chord sounds like

A minor ninth is a minor seventh with an added major ninth: soft and warm, typical of R&B and neo-soul.

Notes of the Em9 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	E	root
3	G	minor third (3 semitones)
5	B	perfect fifth (7 semitones)
7	D	minor seventh (10 semitones)
9	F♯	major second (2 semitones)

Piano voicings

Chords with five or more notes are rarely played in one hand: the left hand takes the root, the right hand the colour notes. The fifth (and in an eleventh chord the third) is often left out.

Full chord

E4 – G4 – B4 – D5 – F♯5

Two-hand voicing

E3 – G4 – D5 – F♯5 – B5

Which keys is it in?

The Em9 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

E minor: i9 (tonic)
B minor: iv9 (subdominant)
G major: vi9
D major: ii9

Similar chords and substitutes

If Em9 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

G – relative major: two shared notes
C – the major chord a major third below: two shared notes
Em7 – a fuller, softer minor colour

Simpler versions

Em7 – all 4 of its notes are in this chord
Em – all 3 of its notes are in this chord
Esus2 – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Em9 chord?

E, G, B, D, F♯. The root is E; the intervals of the other notes from the root: minor third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, major second.

How do I play the Em9 chord on piano?

Play the root with your left hand and the colour notes (third, seventh, ninth) with your right hand – the two-hand voicing above. Stacking all 5 notes in one hand is possible but sounds crowded.

How is the Em9 chord written?

The chord symbol is Em9, and its full name is E minor ninth.