Musical key

Key of E Minor

E Minor is a minor key with 1 sharp (F♯). Its scale is E – F♯ – G – A – B – C – D, and its relative major is G Major.

Key signature

1 sharp (F♯).

E

G

A

B

C

D

F♯

Natural minor keys have minor chords on i, iv and v, major chords on III, VI and VII, and a diminished chord on ii°.

Degree	Triads	Notes	7th chords
i	Em	E G B	i7Em7
ii°	F♯dim	F♯ A C	iiø7F♯m7♭5
III	G	G B D	IIImaj7Gmaj7
iv	Am	A C E	iv7Am7
v	Bm	B D F♯	v7Bm7
VI	C	C E G	VImaj7Cmaj7
VII	D	D F♯ A	VII7D7

Most music in E Minor raises the 7th note, which turns the v chord into B — a major V that pulls strongly back home.

Click a chord to see it, or press play to hear the progression.

Minor i–iv–v
i – iv – v
1. Em
2. Am
3. Bm
The simplest minor-key progression, dark and modal.
Minor with a strong V
i – iv – V – i
1. Em
2. Am
3. B
4. Em
The raised 7th gives a major V that resolves firmly to i.
Minor pop loop
Vibe: Sad
i – VI – III – VII
1. Em
2. C
3. G
4. D
A melancholic loop heard in rock and pop ballads.
Epic minor
Vibe: Epic
i – VI – VII – i
1. Em
2. C
3. D
4. Em
Rising from VI through VII back to i — the sound of film trailers.
Minor ii–V–i
iiø7 – V7 – i
The jazz cadence in minor: half-diminished ii, dominant V7, minor i.
Minor 7th groove
Vibe: Sad
i7 – iv7 – V7
1. Em7
2. Am7
3. B7
Smooth minor sevenths resolving through a dominant V7.

If chords sound sour even when you play the right notes, the piano is probably out of tune. Our technicians tune pianos across Israel.