All chords › E › Minor-family

E Minor-family Chords

Minor seventh and its extensions, plus the minor-major seventh family. The same darkness as a plain minor chord, with more air in the upper voices.

14 chord types · 237 playable voicings · frets 1–15 · 214 use an open string

214 of the 237 shapes below let at least one string ring open, which usually makes them easier to hold and fuller to hear than the barred equivalents. The rest are movable grips. In the keys you are most likely to meet them, these chords sit as the I of E, the IV of A, and the V of B.

Jump to: Em7 · Em6 · Em6/9 · Em(maj7) · Em7add11 · Em(maj7)add11 · Em7add13 · Em(maj7)add13 · Em(add9) · Em9 · Em(maj9) · Em11 · Em(maj11) · Em13

Em7

EGBD
31 shapes · open & play
O
O
O
1
1
2
O
O
O
O
O
1
O
O
O
O
1
2
O
O
O
O
1
2
O
O
O
1
2
3
O
O
1
1
2
3
O
O
O
1
3
2
O
1
1
4
2
3
O
O
1
4
2
3
X
X
1
4
2
3
O
X
O
O
O
3
1
O
O
3
3
2
1
1
O
3
3
4
2
1
1
O
O
O
O
3
3
1
O
O
O
3
3
4
1
O
O
O
3
3
2
1
O
O
3
3
4
2
1
O
O
O
O
O
5
1
X
5
2
1
3
1
4
O
O
O
O
O
7
1
X
7
1
3
1
2
1
X
7
1
3
1
2
4
X
X
7
1
4
2
3
O
O
O
O
O
10
1
O
X
O
O
O
10
1
O
X
O
O
O
12
1
12
1
3
1
1
1
1
12
1
3
1
1
4
1
12
1
3
1
1
1
4
X
X
12
1
2
3
4
O
X
O
X
O
15
1

Em7 turns up as the i, v, iv, vi chord across 6 keys: i of E minor, v of A minor, iv of B minor, vi of G major, ii of D major, iii of C major.

Progressions that actually use it: i7 – VImaj7 – IIImaj7 – VII7 (E minor), Imaj7 – vi7 – ii7 – V7 (G major), Iadd9 – V – vi7 – IV (G major), vi7 – ii7 – V7 – Imaj7 (G major).

Fret and finger numbers for Em7
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
0 2 2 0 3 0– 1 1 – 2 –
0 2 0 0 0 0– 1 – – – –
0 2 0 0 3 0– 1 – – 2 –
0 2 0 0 0 3– 1 – – – 2
0 2 0 0 3 3– 1 – – 2 3
0 2 2 0 3 3– 1 1 – 2 3
0 2 0 4 0 3– 1 – 3 – 2
0 2 2 4 3 3– 1 1 4 2 3
0 2 0 4 3 3– 1 – 4 2 3
X X 2 4 3 3– – 1 4 2 3
0 X 0 0 0 3– – – – – 1
0 5 0 4 3 3– 3 – 2 1 1
0 5 5 4 3 3– 3 4 2 1 1
0 5 0 0 0 3– 3 – – – 1
0 5 5 0 0 3– 3 4 – – 1
0 5 0 4 0 3– 3 – 2 – 1
0 5 5 4 0 3– 3 4 2 – 1
0 5 0 0 0 0– 1 – – – –
X 7 5 7 5 7– 2 1 3 1 4
0 7 0 0 0 0– 1 – – – –
X 7 9 7 8 7– 1 3 1 2 1
X 7 9 7 8 10– 1 3 1 2 4
X 7 9 7 8 X– 1 4 2 3 –
0 10 0 0 0 0– 1 – – – –
0 X 0 0 0 10– – – – – 1
0 X 0 0 0 12– – – – – 1
12 14 12 12 12 121 3 1 1 1 1
12 14 12 12 15 121 3 1 1 4 1
12 14 12 12 12 151 3 1 1 1 4
12 X 12 12 12 X1 – 2 3 4 –
0 X 0 X 0 15– – – – – 1

Em6

EGBC#
20 shapes · open & play
O
O
O
O
3
1
O
X
O
O
1
2
O
O
O
1
1
2
O
O
1
1
2
3
O
1
1
4
2
3
O
O
O
3
1
2
O
O
3
1
4
2
X
X
1
4
2
3
O
O
O
3
2
3
1
O
X
O
O
O
4
1
O
O
O
O
4
1
2
O
O
O
4
1
3
2
O
O
4
1
3
2
4
O
O
O
4
1
2
3
O
O
O
5
3
1
2
O
5
3
1
2
1
4
O
X
O
O
7
1
3
O
X
X
O
O
9
1
O
X
O
O
O
11
1
O
X
O
X
14
1
2

Em6 is the iv and the ii chord of B minor and D major.

Fret and finger numbers for Em6
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
0 4 2 0 0 0– 3 1 – – –
0 2 X 0 2 0– 1 – – 2 –
0 2 2 0 2 0– 1 1 – 2 –
0 2 2 0 2 3– 1 1 – 2 3
0 2 2 4 2 3– 1 1 4 2 3
0 4 2 0 0 3– 3 1 – – 2
0 4 2 4 0 3– 3 1 4 – 2
X X 2 4 2 3– – 1 4 2 3
0 4 5 0 0 3– 2 3 – – 1
0 4 X 0 0 0– 1 – – – –
0 4 5 0 0 0– 1 2 – – –
0 4 5 4 0 0– 1 3 2 – –
0 4 5 4 5 0– 1 3 2 4 –
0 4 5 6 0 0– 1 2 3 – –
0 7 5 6 0 0– 3 1 2 – –
0 7 5 6 5 7– 3 1 2 1 4
0 7 X 0 0 9– 1 – – – 3
0 X X 0 0 9– – – – – 1
0 X 11 0 0 0– – 1 – – –
0 14 X 0 14 X– 1 – – 2 –

Em6/9

EGBC#F#
14 shapes · open & play
O
O
O
3
4
1
O
X
O
O
3
1
O
O
1
4
2
3
O
O
O
3
1
2
O
O
1
4
2
3
O
1
3
4
1
2
O
O
O
1
3
2
O
O
O
3
2
3
1
O
O
3
2
3
4
1
O
O
O
O
4
1
1
O
O
O
4
1
1
4
O
O
7
1
3
2
4
O
O
O
O
9
1
3
O
9
1
1
3
4
2

Em6/9 is the iv and the ii chord of B minor and D major.

Fret and finger numbers for Em6/9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
0 4 4 0 0 2– 3 4 – – 1
0 4 X 0 0 2– 3 – – – 1
0 2 4 0 2 2– 1 4 – 2 3
0 4 2 0 0 2– 3 1 – – 2
0 2 4 0 2 3– 1 4 – 2 3
0 2 4 4 2 3– 1 3 4 1 2
0 2 4 0 2 0– 1 3 – 2 –
0 4 4 0 0 3– 2 3 – – 1
0 4 4 4 0 3– 2 3 4 – 1
0 4 4 0 0 0– 1 1 – – –
0 4 4 0 0 7– 1 1 – – 4
0 7 9 0 7 9– 1 3 – 2 4
0 9 11 0 0 0– 1 3 – – –
0 9 9 12 12 9– 1 1 3 4 2

Em(maj7)

EGBEb
20 shapes · open & play
O
O
O
O
2
1
O
X
O
O
O
1
O
O
O
2
1
3
O
O
O
1
1
3
O
O
1
1
3
2
O
1
1
3
4
2
X
X
1
3
4
2
O
X
O
O
3
4
1
O
O
4
3
2
1
1
O
O
O
4
3
2
1
O
O
O
O
5
2
1
O
O
5
3
1
2
4
O
O
O
5
2
1
3
O
X
O
O
O
6
1
O
7
1
4
2
3
1
O
O
7
1
4
2
3
O
O
8
3
2
1
1
O
O
O
O
10
1
4
O
X
X
O
O
11
1
12
1
3
2
1
1
1

Em(maj7) — A minor triad with a major seventh. It comes from harmonic minor, not from any plain major or minor scale — that half-step between the seventh and the root is what makes it sound suspenseful. Think spy themes and stairwells of descending bass lines.

Fret and finger numbers for Em(maj7)
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
0 2 1 0 0 0– 2 1 – – –
0 X 1 0 0 0– – 1 – – –
0 2 1 0 0 3– 2 1 – – 3
0 2 2 0 4 0– 1 1 – 3 –
0 2 2 0 4 3– 1 1 – 3 2
0 2 2 4 4 3– 1 1 3 4 2
X X 2 4 4 3– – 1 3 4 2
0 6 X 0 0 3– 4 – – – 1
0 6 5 4 4 0– 3 2 1 1 –
0 6 5 4 0 0– 3 2 1 – –
0 6 5 0 0 0– 2 1 – – –
0 6 5 0 5 7– 3 1 – 2 4
0 6 5 0 0 7– 2 1 – – 3
0 6 X 0 0 0– 1 – – – –
0 7 9 8 8 7– 1 4 2 3 1
0 7 9 8 8 0– 1 4 2 3 –
0 10 9 8 8 0– 3 2 1 1 –
0 10 13 0 0 0– 1 4 – – –
0 X X 0 0 11– – – – – 1
12 14 13 12 12 121 3 2 1 1 1

Em7add11

EGBDA
14 shapes · open & play
O
O
O
O
1
2
O
O
O
1
2
3
O
O
1
2
3
4
O
1
1
1
2
3
O
O
1
4
2
3
O
O
O
O
O
3
1
O
O
O
O
3
2
1
O
O
O
3
2
1
1
O
O
3
3
2
1
1
O
O
O
3
2
3
1
O
O
O
3
3
2
1
O
O
3
3
2
1
4
O
O
O
O
O
5
1
O
O
O
O
5
1
2

Em7add11 turns up as the i, v, iv, vi chord across 6 keys: i of E minor, v of A minor, iv of B minor, vi of G major, ii of D major, iii of C major.

Fret and finger numbers for Em7add11
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
0 0 0 2 0 3– – – 1 – 2
0 2 0 2 0 3– 1 – 2 – 3
0 2 0 2 3 3– 1 – 2 3 4
0 2 2 2 3 3– 1 1 1 2 3
0 0 2 4 3 3– – 1 4 2 3
0 0 0 0 0 3– – – – – 1
0 0 0 4 0 3– – – 2 – 1
0 0 0 4 3 3– – – 2 1 1
0 0 5 4 3 3– – 3 2 1 1
0 0 0 4 5 3– – – 2 3 1
0 0 5 4 3 0– – 3 2 1 –
0 0 5 4 3 5– – 3 2 1 4
0 0 0 0 0 5– – – – – 1
0 5 0 0 0 5– 1 – – – 2

Em(maj7)add11

EGBEbA
22 shapes · open & play
O
O
O
O
O
1
O
O
O
O
1
3
O
O
O
1
2
3
O
1
1
1
3
2
O
O
1
3
4
2
O
O
3
4
2
3
1
O
O
O
4
2
1
1
O
O
4
2
1
1
3
X
4
4
2
1
1
3
O
O
O
O
5
1
4
O
X
O
O
5
2
1
O
O
O
5
3
1
2
O
O
O
5
2
3
1
O
O
5
2
3
1
4
O
O
O
O
6
1
2
O
O
O
6
1
2
3
O
O
7
1
3
4
2
O
7
1
1
3
4
2
O
O
O
O
9
1
3
O
O
X
O
O
11
1
12
1
1
2
1
1
4
12
1
1
2
3
1
4

Em(maj7)add11 — A minor-major seventh with the eleventh added. Harmonic-minor colour with a fourth ringing against the third.

Fret and finger numbers for Em(maj7)add11
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
0 0 1 0 0 0– – 1 – – –
0 0 1 0 0 3– – 1 – – 3
0 0 1 2 0 3– – 1 2 – 3
0 2 2 2 4 3– 1 1 1 3 2
0 0 2 4 4 3– – 1 3 4 2
0 0 5 4 4 3– – 4 2 3 1
0 0 5 4 4 0– – 2 1 1 –
0 0 5 4 4 5– – 2 1 1 3
X 7 5 4 4 5– 4 2 1 1 3
0 0 5 8 0 0– – 1 4 – –
0 6 X 0 0 5– 2 – – – 1
0 6 5 0 0 5– 3 1 – – 2
0 6 7 0 0 5– 2 3 – – 1
0 6 7 0 5 7– 2 3 – 1 4
0 6 7 0 0 0– 1 2 – – –
0 6 7 0 0 7– 1 2 – – 3
0 0 7 8 8 7– – 1 3 4 2
0 7 7 8 8 7– 1 1 3 4 2
0 0 9 0 0 11– – 1 – – 3
0 0 X 0 0 11– – – – – 1
12 12 13 12 12 151 1 2 1 1 4
12 12 13 14 12 151 1 2 3 1 4

Em7add13

EGBDC#
13 shapes · open & play
O
O
O
O
1
2
O
O
O
1
2
3
O
O
O
O
O
4
1
O
O
O
O
7
1
3
X
7
1
3
1
2
4
O
X
O
O
O
9
1
O
O
O
O
9
2
1
O
12
3
1
1
4
2
O
O
12
3
1
4
1
O
O
12
3
1
4
2
O
O
12
1
3
4
2
O
O
O
12
3
4
1
12
1
3
1
1
4
1

Em7add13 is the iv and the ii chord of B minor and D major.

Fret and finger numbers for Em7add13
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
0 2 0 0 2 0– 1 – – 2 –
0 2 0 0 2 3– 1 – – 2 3
0 4 0 0 0 0– 1 – – – –
0 7 0 0 0 9– 1 – – – 3
X 7 9 7 8 9– 1 3 1 2 4
0 X 0 0 0 9– – – – – 1
0 10 0 0 0 9– 2 – – – 1
0 14 12 12 14 12– 3 1 1 4 2
0 14 0 12 14 12– 3 – 1 4 1
0 14 12 0 14 12– 3 1 – 4 2
12 14 0 0 14 121 3 – – 4 2
0 14 0 0 14 12– 3 – – 4 1
12 14 12 12 14 121 3 1 1 4 1

Em(maj7)add13

EGBEbC#
13 shapes · open & play
O
O
O
O
4
1
O
O
O
2
1
3
O
O
O
5
2
1
3
O
X
O
O
6
1
4
O
O
O
10
1
2
3
O
X
O
O
11
1
2
O
12
3
2
1
4
1
O
O
12
3
2
4
1
O
12
1
3
2
1
4
O
O
12
3
2
1
4
O
O
12
1
3
2
4
12
1
3
2
1
4
1
O
O
X
13
2
1
3

Em(maj7)add13 — A minor-major seventh with the thirteenth added. Harmonic-minor colour, opened out at the top.

Fret and finger numbers for Em(maj7)add13
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
0 4 1 0 0 0– 4 1 – – –
0 2 1 0 2 0– 2 1 – 3 –
0 6 5 6 0 0– 2 1 3 – –
0 6 X 0 0 9– 1 – – – 4
0 10 11 0 0 11– 1 2 – – 3
0 X 11 0 0 11– – 1 – – 2
0 14 13 12 14 12– 3 2 1 4 1
0 14 13 0 14 12– 3 2 – 4 1
12 14 13 12 14 01 3 2 1 4 –
0 14 13 12 14 0– 3 2 1 4 –
12 14 13 0 14 01 3 2 – 4 –
12 14 13 12 14 121 3 2 1 4 1
0 14 13 0 14 X– 2 1 – 3 –

Em(add9)

EGBF#
17 shapes · open & play
O
X
X
O
O
1
O
O
O
O
1
3
O
O
O
1
1
2
O
O
O
1
3
2
O
O
O
1
3
2
O
O
1
3
4
2
X
X
O
O
1
2
O
X
O
O
O
4
1
O
O
O
7
3
4
1
O
O
O
7
3
4
1
O
O
7
1
4
2
3
O
O
7
3
4
1
1
O
O
7
3
4
2
1
O
O
O
7
1
3
2
O
X
O
O
O
9
1
X
X
12
3
1
1
4
O
X
O
O
14
1
2

Em(add9) turns up as the i, iv, vi, ii chord across 4 keys: i of E minor, iv of B minor, vi of G major, ii of D major.

Fret and finger numbers for Em(add9)
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
0 X X 0 0 2– – – – – 1
0 2 4 0 0 0– 1 3 – – –
0 2 2 0 0 2– 1 1 – – 2
0 2 4 0 0 2– 1 3 – – 2
0 2 4 0 0 3– 1 3 – – 2
0 2 4 4 0 3– 1 3 4 – 2
X X 2 0 0 2– – 1 – – 2
0 X 4 0 0 0– – 1 – – –
0 9 9 0 0 7– 3 4 – – 1
0 9 9 0 7 0– 3 4 – 1 –
0 7 9 0 7 7– 1 4 – 2 3
0 9 9 0 7 7– 3 4 – 1 1
0 9 9 0 8 7– 3 4 – 2 1
0 7 9 0 7 0– 1 3 – 2 –
0 9 X 0 0 0– 1 – – – –
X X 14 12 12 14– – 3 1 1 4
0 X 14 0 0 14– – 1 – – 2

Em9

EGBDF#
18 shapes · open & play
O
X
O
O
O
1
O
O
O
O
1
2
O
O
O
1
3
2
O
O
1
1
3
2
O
O
1
4
3
2
O
O
1
4
2
3
O
O
O
1
3
2
O
3
4
2
3
1
1
O
O
O
3
3
2
1
O
O
3
4
2
3
1
O
O
O
O
4
2
1
O
O
O
5
1
3
4
O
O
5
1
1
3
4
O
O
O
O
7
3
1
O
O
O
7
1
2
3
O
O
O
7
3
1
1
O
O
O
O
O
9
1
12
1
3
1
1
1
4

Em9 turns up as the i, iv, vi, ii chord across 4 keys: i of E minor, iv of B minor, vi of G major, ii of D major.

Fret and finger numbers for Em9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
0 X 0 0 0 2– – – – – 1
0 2 0 0 0 2– 1 – – – 2
0 2 0 0 3 2– 1 – – 3 2
0 2 2 0 3 2– 1 1 – 3 2
0 2 4 0 3 2– 1 4 – 3 2
0 2 4 0 3 3– 1 4 – 2 3
0 2 4 0 3 0– 1 3 – 2 –
0 5 4 4 3 3– 4 2 3 1 1
0 5 4 0 0 3– 3 2 – – 1
0 5 4 4 0 3– 4 2 3 – 1
0 5 4 0 0 0– 2 1 – – –
0 5 0 0 7 7– 1 – – 3 4
0 5 5 0 7 7– 1 1 – 3 4
0 9 0 0 0 7– 3 – – – 1
0 7 0 0 7 7– 1 – – 2 3
0 9 0 0 7 7– 3 – – 1 1
0 9 0 0 0 0– 1 – – – –
12 14 12 12 12 141 3 1 1 1 4

Em(maj9)

EGBEbF#
18 shapes · open & play
O
X
O
O
1
2
O
O
O
2
1
3
O
O
1
1
3
2
O
O
1
3
4
2
O
O
1
3
4
2
O
O
O
1
3
4
O
O
O
O
4
3
1
O
O
5
2
1
3
4
O
O
O
6
1
4
2
O
O
6
1
4
2
3
O
O
8
2
3
1
1
O
O
O
9
1
1
3
O
X
O
O
9
1
3
O
O
9
2
1
3
4
O
12
3
2
1
1
4
O
O
12
3
2
1
4
O
12
1
3
2
1
4
12
1
3
2
1
1
4

Em(maj9) — The minor-major seventh with a ninth on top. Same harmonic-minor origin, more air above it.

Fret and finger numbers for Em(maj9)
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
0 X 1 0 0 2– – 1 – – 2
0 2 1 0 0 2– 2 1 – – 3
0 2 2 0 4 2– 1 1 – 3 2
0 2 4 0 4 2– 1 3 – 4 2
0 2 4 0 4 3– 1 3 – 4 2
0 2 4 0 4 0– 1 3 – 4 –
0 6 4 0 0 0– 3 1 – – –
0 6 5 0 7 7– 2 1 – 3 4
0 6 9 0 7 0– 1 4 – 2 –
0 6 9 0 7 7– 1 4 – 2 3
0 9 9 8 8 0– 2 3 1 1 –
0 9 9 0 0 11– 1 1 – – 3
0 9 X 0 0 11– 1 – – – 3
0 10 9 11 0 11– 2 1 3 – 4
0 14 13 12 12 14– 3 2 1 1 4
0 14 13 0 12 14– 3 2 – 1 4
12 14 13 12 0 141 3 2 1 – 4
12 14 13 12 12 141 3 2 1 1 4

Em11

EGBDF#A
20 shapes · open & play
O
O
O
O
O
1
O
1
4
1
2
3
O
O
3
2
3
1
1
O
O
O
4
2
1
3
O
O
5
1
2
3
4
O
O
O
O
7
1
1
O
7
4
1
1
1
1
O
7
4
1
1
3
2
O
O
9
1
1
2
3
O
9
1
1
4
2
3
O
9
4
1
1
2
3
O
O
O
O
12
1
3
O
12
1
1
1
1
3
O
O
12
1
1
1
3
O
O
12
1
2
3
4
O
O
12
1
2
3
4
O
O
O
12
1
1
3
O
O
12
1
1
2
3
O
O
12
1
2
3
4
12
1
1
1
1
1
3

Em11 turns up as the i, iv, vi, ii chord across 4 keys: i of E minor, iv of B minor, vi of G major, ii of D major.

Fret and finger numbers for Em11
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
0 0 0 0 0 2– – – – – 1
0 2 4 2 3 3– 1 4 1 2 3
0 0 4 4 3 3– – 2 3 1 1
0 5 4 0 0 5– 2 1 – – 3
0 0 5 7 7 7– – 1 2 3 4
0 0 0 0 7 7– – – – 1 1
0 10 7 7 7 7– 4 1 1 1 1
0 9 7 7 8 7– 4 1 1 3 2
0 9 9 0 10 10– 1 1 – 2 3
0 9 9 12 10 10– 1 1 4 2 3
12 9 9 0 10 104 1 1 – 2 3
0 0 0 0 12 14– – – – 1 3
0 12 12 12 12 14– 1 1 1 1 3
0 0 12 12 12 14– – 1 1 1 3
0 12 0 12 12 14– 1 – 2 3 4
12 0 0 12 12 141 – – 2 3 4
0 0 0 12 12 14– – – 1 1 3
0 12 12 0 12 14– 1 1 – 2 3
12 0 12 0 12 141 – 2 – 3 4
12 12 12 12 12 141 1 1 1 1 3

Em(maj11)

EGBEbF#A
10 shapes · open & play
O
O
O
O
1
2
O
2
1
4
1
3
1
O
O
O
4
3
1
2
O
O
O
4
1
2
4
O
7
4
1
2
3
1
O
7
4
1
2
1
1
O
O
9
1
1
2
3
O
9
1
1
4
2
3
O
O
O
12
2
1
3
12
1
1
2
1
1
3

Em(maj11) — The minor-major seventh stacked up to the eleventh. From harmonic minor; dense and unresolved.

Fret and finger numbers for Em(maj11)
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
0 0 1 0 0 2– – 1 – – 2
0 2 5 2 4 2– 1 4 1 3 1
0 6 4 0 0 5– 3 1 – – 2
0 0 4 0 4 7– – 1 – 2 4
0 9 7 8 8 7– 4 1 2 3 1
0 10 7 8 7 7– 4 1 2 1 1
0 9 9 0 10 11– 1 1 – 2 3
0 9 9 12 10 11– 1 1 4 2 3
0 0 13 0 12 14– – 2 – 1 3
12 12 13 12 12 141 1 2 1 1 3

Em13

EGBDF#C#
7 shapes · open & play
O
O
O
O
3
1
O
O
O
1
2
3
O
3
2
3
4
1
1
O
O
O
4
1
3
4
O
O
6
4
1
3
2
O
O
O
O
9
1
2
O
9
1
2
3
4
1

Em13 is the iv and the ii chord of B minor and D major.

Fret and finger numbers for Em13
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
0 4 0 0 0 2– 3 – – – 1
0 2 0 0 2 2– 1 – – 2 3
0 4 4 4 3 3– 2 3 4 1 1
0 4 0 0 7 7– 1 – – 3 4
0 9 0 6 8 7– 4 – 1 3 2
0 9 0 0 0 9– 1 – – – 2
0 9 12 12 12 9– 1 2 3 4 1

Every chord above has an open & play link that opens it in the interactive dictionary, where you can hear it and step through the shapes. You can also work backwards from a shape you are already holding.