Em to C chord change
Your middle finger moves across to another string on the same fret; your ring finger lifts and moves; your index finger goes down fresh. Your strumming hand changes too: Em uses all six strings, C starts on the A string.
Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little finger. o means play the string open, ✕ means don’t play it.
Finger by finger
- Goes downIndex finger (1) goes down on the B string, 1st fret.
- Moves across, same fretMiddle finger (2) moves across from the A string to the D string, staying on the 2nd fret.
- Lifts and movesRing finger (3) lifts and moves from the D string, 2nd fret to the A string, 3rd fret.
| Finger | On Em | On C | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Index finger (1) | not used | B string, 1st fret | Goes down |
| Middle finger (2) | A string, 2nd fret | D string, 2nd fret | Moves across, same fret |
| Ring finger (3) | D string, 2nd fret | A string, 3rd fret | Lifts and moves |
How to practise Em to C
- Play Em and pick each string on its own. Fix any string that buzzes before you start changing.
- Lead with the ring finger. In C it plays the lowest note (the A string, 3rd fret), which is the first string you strum, so aim it there first and let the other fingers follow.
- Do “ghost changes”: switch from Em to C and back 20 times without strumming. Lift your fingers only just off the strings, and land them all together.
- Now strum: four strums on Em, four on C. When that is clean, try two strums each, then one.
- Time yourself with the trainer below: one minute, counting every clean change. Do it once a day and watch the number climb.
An easier way to play it
Em to C (Em with index and middle finger): the middle finger stays down. It is the same pair of chords, just fingered so the change is shorter.
- Lifts and movesIndex finger (1) lifts and moves from the A string, 2nd fret to the B string, 1st fret.
- Stays putMiddle finger (2) stays put on the D string, 2nd fret.
- Goes downRing finger (3) goes down on the A string, 3rd fret.
Em7 to Cadd9 (Em7 with the top two strings on the 3rd fret): the ring finger and little finger stay down. This version sounds a little different from Em to C, because Em7 replaces Em. It works well in many songs, but check that it suits the one you are playing.
- Moves across, same fretIndex finger (1) moves across from the A string to the D string, staying on the 2nd fret.
- Lifts and movesMiddle finger (2) lifts and moves from the D string, 2nd fret to the A string, 3rd fret.
- Stays putRing finger (3) stays put on the B string, 3rd fret.
- Stays putLittle finger (4) stays put on the high e string, 3rd fret.
One-minute Em to C trainer
Press Start, hold Em through the count-in, then change back and forth for one minute. Tap the big button (or press the space bar) every time you land a clean chord. Your best score is kept.
Want other chords? Open the full chord change trainer.
Songs that use Em to C
These songs in our free song library change between Em and C. Each one has a play-along that counts you in and lights up the chord to play.
Em to C: questions
Which finger stays down when you change from Em to C?
None stays in exactly the same place with the standard shapes. Your middle finger moves across to another string on the same fret; your ring finger lifts and moves; your index finger goes down fresh. With the easier fingering on this page, middle finger can stay in contact.
How do I change from Em to C faster?
Practise the change on its own, not inside a song. Lift your fingers only just off the strings, land them all at once, and lead with the finger that has the longest trip. Then do one minute of changes a day with a timer and count them. If it still feels slow, try the easier version: Em to C.
How many Em to C changes a minute is good?
Count every clean change: Em to C is one, and back again is two. Around 30 in a minute is a solid start and enough for slow songs. At 40 most songs at a relaxed tempo start to flow, and at about 60 (one change a second) the change is ready for almost anything.
What songs use Em and C?
In our free song library, Man of Constant Sorrow, Whiskey in the Jar, Auld Lang Syne and Aura Lee, and 6 more use it. Em to C is vi to IV in the key of G, from the G, D, Em, C loop.
Is C to Em the same as Em to C?
It uses the same moves in reverse. Practise both directions: the trainer counts each switch either way.
More chord changes
Learn the chords in the right order
Fretwork’s lessons teach one chord at a time, with a ring test and a one-minute change check before you move on. The first two stages are free.