Minor Chord Formation - E Minor

Hi There, 

I have been playing guitar for many years, but I am the typical follow the Chord Fingering on Ultimate Guitar and just work it out from there when playing songs. I am currently on fundemetals 2 and working hard on the theory and currently trying to figure out the fret board a bit more.  

As far as I can undertsand it, when forming a minor chord (Triad). You would play the First note, Flat third and the Fifth. 

Can someone please help me answer the following. Why when we play the E minor chord in the open position we only play the E (I), and the A (V). The flat third would be the G but we dont play that.?

Thanks

TC

You've got the basic idea right:  basic major & minor chords consist of the 1st, 3rd & 5th of their parent scale.  The E minor scale is:

E (1st) - F# (2nd) - G (minor 3rd) - A (4th) - B (5th) - C (minor 6th) - D (minor 7th)

So an E minor chord is the 1st, minor 3rd and 5th of the E minor scale.  Those notes are:

1st - E, minor 3rd - G, 5th - B

This is typically done by playing

|--0--(E)--|
|--0--(B)--|
|--0--(G)--|
|--2--(E)--|
|--2--(B)--|
|--0--(E)--|

But you can simplify it down to just those 3 notes, because that's all you need for a chord.

|--0--(E)--|
|--0--(B)--|
|--0--(G)--|
|----------|
|----------|
|----------|

This tutorial covers the basics of chord theory.

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial/148

Hope that helps!

Ah that make sense. 

Thanks a stack. I'll take a look at the tutorial straight away. 

Appreciate the feedback. 

TC

You're welcome! 

i realy like  the tutorial cus that's so helpful .