Chords in the Key of E Minor
The key of E minor is built on the notes E – F# – G – A – B – C – D. Every chord below is drawn from that scale, so they all sound at home together.
The seven chords in E minor
| Numeral | Chord | Notes | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| i | Em | E G B | Minor |
| ii° | F#dim | F# A C | Diminished |
| III | G | G B D | Major |
| iv | Am | A C E | Minor |
| v | Bm | B D F# | Minor |
| VI | C | C E G | Major |
| VII | D | D F# A | Major |
Seventh chords in E minor
Adding the next third on top of each triad gives the seventh chords of the key — the harmonic vocabulary most jazz and soul writing starts from.
| Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| i7 | Em7 | E G B D |
| iiø7 | F#m7b5 | F# A C E |
| IIImaj7 | Gmaj7 | G B D F# |
| iv7 | Am7 | A C E G |
| v7 | Bm7 | B D F# A |
| VImaj7 | Cmaj7 | C E G B |
| VII7 | D7 | D F# A C |
Common chord progressions in E minor
| Numerals | Chords in E minor | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| i – VI – III – VII | Em – C – G – D | A bright, anthemic minor progression. |
| i – iv – v | Em – Am – Bm | The natural-minor equivalent of the classic cadence. |
| i – VII – VI – VII | Em – D – C – D | A modal, folk-leaning loop. |
| i – iv – VII – III | Em – Am – D – G | Moves toward the relative major for a lift. |
Relative major key
E minor shares all of its notes with G major, so switching between the two changes the mood of a piece without changing a single note. See G major.
Scale reference
See the full E Natural Minor scale for its fingering, key signature, degrees and step pattern.
Other scales for this key: E harmonic minor, E melodic minor, E minor pentatonic and E blues.
Other keys
Frequently asked questions
What chords are in the key of E minor?
The key of E minor contains Em, F#dim, G, Am, Bm, C, D. These are the triads built on each degree of the E minor scale.
What is the relative major of E minor?
The relative major of E minor is G major. Both keys use exactly the same notes but resolve to a different tonic.
How many sharps or flats does E minor have?
The E minor scale is spelled E, F#, G, A, B, C, D, which gives it 1 sharp and 0 flats.