Key · minor
The key of E Minor
E Minor has 1 sharp (F♯). Its scale is E F♯ G A B C D. The seven chords built on those degrees are i Em, ii° F♯dim, III G, iv Am, v Bm, VI C and VII D; the dominant is Bm and the subdominant Am. Its relative major is G Major and its parallel major is E Major.
The scale on the keyboard
Fingering for both hands, the step pattern and the other forms are on the E Natural Minor scale page.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Name | Interval from the tonic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | Tonic | Unison |
| 2 | F♯ | Supertonic | Major 2nd |
| 3 | G | Mediant | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | A | Subdominant | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | B | Dominant | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | C | Submediant | Minor 6th |
| 7 | D | Subtonic | Minor 7th |
Chords in E Minor
One chord on each degree of the scale. The dominant is Bm and the subdominant Am.
| Numeral | Triad | Quality | Seventh |
|---|---|---|---|
| i | Em | Minor | Em7 |
| ii° | F♯dim | Diminished | F♯m7♭5 |
| III | G | Major | Gmaj7 |
| iv | Am | Minor | Am7 |
| v | Bm | Minor | Bm7 |
| VI | C | Major | Cmaj7 |
| VII | D | Major | D7 |
Chord functions
| Function | Chords |
|---|---|
| Tonic | i · III · VI |
| Subdominant | ii° · iv |
| Dominant | v · VII · V (harmonic) |
Common progressions in E Minor
| Progression | Chords | Level |
|---|---|---|
| i – iv – v | Em – Am – Bm | Easy |
| i – iv – V | Em – Am – B | Easy |
| i – VI – III – VII | Em – C – G – D | Easy |
| i – VII – VI – VII | Em – D – C – D | Easy |
| i – VII – VI – V | Em – D – C – B | Medium |
| i – VI – iv – V | Em – C – Am – B | Medium |
| i – iv – VII – III | Em – Am – D – G | Medium |
| i – III – VII – iv | Em – G – D – Am | Medium |
| i – iv – i – V | Em – Am – Em – B | Medium |
| i – IV – i – V | Em – A – Em – B | Hard |
| ii° – V – i | F♯dim – B – Em | Hard |
| iiø7 – V7 – im7 | F♯m7♭5 – B7 – Em7 | Hard |
| 12-Bar Minor Blues | Em – Em – Em – Em – Am – Am – Em – Em – C – B – Em – B | Hard |
The other keys
Part of the key reference. See also the chords and the scales.