Modal RunsEm9 Chord (Minor 9th)
Minor 9th extends min7 with a 9th — root, flat 3rd, 5th, flat 7th, 9th — a smoother, more spacious minor colour. The notes of Em9 are E, G, B, D, F#.
A neo-soul and modal-jazz staple; the added 9th keeps a minor chord from feeling heavy even when it’s held for a long time.
Em9 voicings on guitar
Every playable, root-in-the-bass grip standard tuning offers, computed from the chord’s own formula — not a fixed shape library.
Hold it under a Dorian melody line — the natural 6th of Dorian and the 9th of this chord share the same open, unresolved character.
Formula and intervals
R - b3 - 5 - b7 - 2 — 5 notes.
Scales that fit Em9
Every scale below contains all of this chord’s notes — safe territory to improvise in over it.