E Minor Chord (Em) on Piano
The Em chord (E minor) is built from 3 notes: E – G – B.
Play these notes on a MIDI keyboard, your computer keyboard, or the on-screen keys and ChordKeys will name the chord back to you.
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from E | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| E | 1 | root | 0 |
| G | b3 | minor 3rd | 3 |
| B | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
Inversions
Rearranging which note sits at the bottom gives you 3 playable voicings of the same chord. Inversions let you move between chords with less hand movement.
| Voicing | Notes | Bass note |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | E – G – B | E in the bass |
| 1st inversion | G – B – E | G in the bass |
| 2nd inversion | B – E – G | B in the bass |
How the minor chord is built
Every minor chord uses the same interval formula: 1 (0 semitones), b3 (3 semitones), 5 (7 semitones). Starting on E and applying that formula produces E, G, B. Learn the formula once and you can build a minor chord on any of the twelve roots.
Keys that contain Em
Every note of Em belongs to these keys, so it will sit naturally in a progression written in any of them.
Other chords on E
Minor chords on other roots
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in a Em chord?
A Em chord contains the notes E, G, B. Those are the 1, b3, 5 degrees measured from the root note E.
How do you play Em on piano?
Place your thumb on E, then add G and B above it. With a right hand in root position the common fingering is 1–3–5.