As a minor tonicE minor
The natural-minor loop - every chord is drawn from the key's own seven notes.
E Minor Chord: Guitar, Piano and Notes
The E Minor chord is built on the root note E. Its notes are E, G and B.
Transpose
Quality
Short answer
Minor chords have a darker, more introspective quality. A root, a minor third and a perfect fifth give them a reflective, sometimes sad character that's common in ballads, folk and film scores.
- Notes
- E · G · B
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · 5
- Semitones
- 0 · 3 · 7
- Note
- E
- Quality
- Minor
- Symbol
- Em
E Minor on piano
3 notesView:
Switch to the interactive diagram to hear the chord, change voicing and swap finger numbers for note names.
To play E Minor on piano, place your right hand with your thumb on E, middle finger on G and little finger on B. Press the keys together and listen for an even sound. On the keyboard every note of E Minor is a white key. Practice moving in and out of the chord slowly, then bring in a metronome.
- E1
- G♭3
- B5
E Minor on guitar
View:
Switch to the interactive diagram to hear the chord, change voicing and swap finger numbers for note names.
On guitar, E Minor is commonly played with the voicing shown above. Strings 6, 3, 2 and 1 ring open.
E · G · B
Try E Minor on the virtual piano
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E Minor chord notes
| Degree | Interval | Semitones | Note | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Root | 0 | E | |
| ♭3 | Minor third | 3 | G | |
| 5 | Perfect fifth | 7 | B |
How to use the E Minor chord
The E Minor chord is built from a root, a minor third and a perfect fifth. Start at the root E and stack the intervals to get the whole chord: E, G and B. The same formula gives you the chord in any other key.
Minor chords are everywhere in rock, pop, classical and film music. They often act as the vi chord in major keys or as the i, iv and v in a natural minor key.
In major keys Em is the iii in C major, the vi in G major and the ii in D major; in minor keys it's the v in A minor, the i in E minor and the iv in B minor.
How E Minor differs from similar chords
Em differs from E by a single note, a third that sits a half step lower. Unlike E°, it keeps a perfect fifth, which is why it sounds sad rather than unstable. Add a minor seventh and you get Em7, a softer version of the same chord.
Songs that use the E Minor chord
These well-known tracks all play the E Minor chord somewhere - they are not necessarily in that key.
- 1Nothing Else MattersMetallica
- 2Wish You Were HerePink Floyd
- 3Hotel CaliforniaEagles
- 4Wake Me UpAvicii
- 5Smells Like Teen SpiritNirvana
Where E Minor is used
A minor chord works as the tonic of its own key, and as the vi or the ii of a major one. Each progression below is written in the key its numerals name.
Scales that contain Em
These scales include Em as one of their diatonic chords. Use them to find melodies and improvisation ideas that fit perfectly.
C Major
C · D · E · F · G · A · B
C Lydian
C · D · E · F♯ · G · A · B
C Harmonic Major
C · D · E · F · G · A♭ · B
C Gypsy Major
C · D♭ · E · F · G · A♭ · B
C♯ Locrian
C♯ · D · E · F♯ · G · A · B
C♯ Altered
C♯ · D · E · F · G · A · B
D Major
D · E · F♯ · G · A · B · C♯
D Melodic Minor
D · E · F · G · A · B · C♯
D Dorian
D · E · F · G · A · B · C
D Mixolydian
D · E · F♯ · G · A · B · C
E Natural Minor
E · F♯ · G · A · B · C · D
E Harmonic Minor
E · F♯ · G · A · B · C · D♯
Questions people ask
- What notes are in the E Minor chord?
- The E Minor chord contains E, G and B.
- Is the E Minor chord major or minor?
- E Minor is a minor chord. Minor chords have a darker, more introspective quality. A root, a minor third and a perfect fifth give them a reflective, sometimes sad character that's common in ballads, folk and film scores.
- What key is the E Minor chord in?
- In major keys Em is the iii in C major, the vi in G major and the ii in D major; in minor keys it's the v in A minor, the i in E minor and the iv in B minor.
- How do you play E Minor on piano?
- Place your fingers on E, G and B and play them together. The root usually goes to the little finger of the left hand, the upper notes to the right. On the keyboard every note of E Minor is a white key.
- How do you play E Minor on guitar?
- Use the fingering in the diagram above. Strings 6, 3, 2 and 1 ring open.
- What chords work well with E Minor?
- E Minor pairs naturally with the chords in the related section: a perfect fifth up or down, the relative major or minor, and anything sharing two notes with it.