G to Em chord change
Your middle finger and ring finger lift and move; your index finger comes off. Your strumming hand does not change: both chords use all six strings.
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
- Lifts offIndex finger (1) lifts off (it was on the A string, 2nd fret).
- Lifts and movesMiddle finger (2) lifts and moves from the low E string, 3rd fret to the A string, 2nd fret.
- Lifts and movesRing finger (3) lifts and moves from the high e string, 3rd fret to the D string, 2nd fret.
| Finger | On G | On Em | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Index finger (1) | A string, 2nd fret | not used | Lifts off |
| Middle finger (2) | low E string, 3rd fret | A string, 2nd fret | Lifts and moves |
| Ring finger (3) | high e string, 3rd fret | D string, 2nd fret | Lifts and moves |
How to practise G to Em
- Play G and pick each string on its own. Fix any string that buzzes before you start changing.
- Lead with the ring finger: it has the furthest to go (to the D string, 2nd fret). Aim it first and let the other fingers follow.
- Do “ghost changes”: switch from G to Em and back 20 times without strumming. Lift your fingers only just off the strings, and land them all together.
- Now strum: four strums on G, four on Em. 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
G to Em (Em with index and middle finger): the index finger stays down. It is the same pair of chords, just fingered so the change is shorter.
- Stays putIndex finger (1) stays put on the A string, 2nd fret.
- Lifts and movesMiddle finger (2) lifts and moves from the low E string, 3rd fret to the D string, 2nd fret.
- Lifts offRing finger (3) lifts off (it was on the high e string, 3rd fret).
G to Em7 (G with the B string on the 3rd fret, then Em7 with the top two strings on the 3rd fret): the index finger, ring finger and little finger stay down. This version sounds a little different from G to Em, because Em7 replaces Em. It works well in many songs, but check that it suits the one you are playing.
- Stays putIndex finger (1) stays put on the A string, 2nd fret.
- Lifts and movesMiddle finger (2) lifts and moves from the low E string, 3rd fret to the D string, 2nd 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 G to Em trainer
Press Start, hold G 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 G to Em
These songs in our free song library change between G and Em. Each one has a play-along that counts you in and lights up the chord to play.
- Molly Malone4 changes
- Aura Lee2 changes
- Danny Boy2 changes
- Go Tell It on the Mountain2 changes
- Man of Constant Sorrow2 changes
- O Little Town of Bethlehem2 changes
- Scarborough Fair2 changes
- The Water Is Wide2 changes
- Were You There2 changes
- Whiskey in the Jar2 changes
- Auld Lang Syne1 change
- Away in a Manger1 change
And 12 more in the song library.
G to Em: questions
Which finger stays down when you change from G to Em?
None stays in exactly the same place with the standard shapes. Your middle finger and ring finger lift and move; your index finger comes off. With the easier fingering on this page, index finger can stay in contact.
How do I change from G to Em 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: G to Em.
How many G to Em changes a minute is good?
Count every clean change: G to Em 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 G and Em?
In our free song library, Molly Malone, Aura Lee, Danny Boy and Go Tell It on the Mountain, and 20 more use it. Em is the relative minor of G, and G to Em opens the most-used four-chord loop on guitar: G, Em, C, D.
Is Em to G the same as G to Em?
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.