E Minor Scale
The E minor scale (also called E natural minor or E Aeolian) contains E – F# – G – A – B – C – D. Its key signature has 1 sharp: F#.
| Note | E | F# | G | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Piano fingering for one octave going up; 1 is the thumb. Coming down, play the same fingers in reverse.
E minor scale fingering
Right hand, going up: the thumb tucks under to A. Left hand, going up: finger 3 crosses over the thumb to C. Practise each hand alone, slowly, until the turns are smooth, then play hands together.
Key signature
E minor has 1 sharp: F#. Its relative major is G major, which uses the same notes and key signature. See the chords in the key of E minor and of G major.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Semitones from E |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | 0 |
| 2 | F# | 2 |
| b3 | G | 3 |
| 4 | A | 5 |
| 5 | B | 7 |
| b6 | C | 8 |
| b7 | D | 10 |
Step pattern
The Natural Minor scale is built from the pattern W – H – W – W – H – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). Apply that pattern from any starting note and you get the same mode in a different key.
Chords in E Natural Minor
Building a triad on each degree of the scale gives you the chords that belong to it. These are the chords to reach for when writing in E Natural Minor.
Other modes on E
More scales on E
Natural Minor scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the E Natural Minor scale?
The E Natural Minor scale contains E, F#, G, A, B, C, D, then returns to E an octave higher.
What is the fingering for the E minor scale on piano?
Going up from E to E, the right hand plays 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 and the left hand plays 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1, where 1 is the thumb. Coming down, use the same fingers in reverse.
How many sharps are in E minor?
E minor has 1 sharp: F#.
What is the step pattern of the Natural Minor scale?
The Natural Minor scale follows the whole/half step pattern W – H – W – W – H – W – W, where W is a whole step (two semitones) and H is a half step (one semitone).
Which chords work with the E Natural Minor scale?
The diatonic chords are Em, F#dim, G, Am, Bm, C, D. Each is built only from notes of the E Natural Minor scale, so they all belong to the same tonality — though the diminished chord carries a tritone and normally wants to resolve.