Rock in E minor (basic version) — strumming pattern
The same strum pattern as the catalogue's pop version, applied here to Em-C-G-D (i-VI-III-VII in E minor): a grid in a minor key, unlike most of the major-key pop grids met so far. All four chords stay open and already familiar on their own, but their minor colour and their sequence (a return to VII before looping back) make it one of the most reused progressions in the rock repertoire, from ballads to more energetic tracks.
Tips
Listen to the minor colour of the opening Em before playing: it's what gives the whole grid its character, unlike the catalogue's major-key versions.
Isolate the G-D passage at the end of the grid: it's where the fingers change the most, right before returning to Em.
Once the grid flows smoothly, compare it by ear with a major-chord progression: the difference in tension between the two keys becomes audible rather than just theoretical.
Chord progression — Em
Chords
Related sheets
- Rock in D (Drop D) — strumming pattern (Level 2)
- Drop D strumming — tight chug in B (Level 2)
- Rock in E minor (basic version) — muted strums (Level 2)