The E Minor chord is a three-note chord made up of E, G, and B. It is built from a root, minor third, and perfect fifth.
Construction
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| E | Root | 1 |
| G | Minor 3rd | ♭3 |
| B | Perfect 5th | 5 |
How to Play the E Minor
Right Hand (RH)
Place your right hand over the keys with the thumb on the root. Use the fingering: 1 – 3 – 5
Left Hand (LH)
For the left hand, start with your pinky on the root. Use the fingering: 5 – 3 – 1
E Minor Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | E – G – B |
| 1st Inversion | G – B – E |
| 2nd Inversion | B – E – G |
Key Signature
A chord has no key signature of its own, but the E Minor is the tonic (i) chord of E Minor, which shares the signature of its relative major, G Major — 1 sharp (F♯).
Order of sharps
Sharps are added to a key signature in a fixed order. Each new sharp key adds the next sharp on the list.
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Chords in the Key of E Minor
These are the triads built on each degree of the E minor scale:
How E Minor functions in a key
The same chord takes on a different harmonic role depending on the key it appears in. Here is where E Minor sits diatonically across the common keys:
- In G major, E Minor is the vi chord — the tonic.
- In E minor, E Minor is the i chord — the tonic.
- In D major, E Minor is the ii chord — a predominant.
- In B minor, E Minor is the iv chord — a predominant.
- In C major, E Minor is the iii chord — a mediant / color chord.
- In A minor, E Minor is the v chord.
Common E Minor Progressions
Pick a progression and press play. Change the key to hear it anywhere — every chord is built from the same theory as the chord pages, so the notes always agree.
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