Chords in the key of E minor
The key of E minor has one sharp (F♯). Its seven chords are Em, F♯dim, G, Am, Bm, C and D. Tap any of them, or play them in order.
Tap a numeral to hear one chord; tap a shape to open it.
The chords that do most of the work
Em is home. Am (iv) moves away from it. The natural-minor chord on the fifth degree is Bm (v), which pulls only gently. Using B (V) or B7 (V7) raises the 7th to D♯, as in harmonic minor, for a stronger return to Em. C (VI) and D (VII) give minor keys their big, open rock and film sound.
Key signature
E minor has one sharp (F♯), written at the start of every line so you don't have to mark it on each note. Sharp keys add one sharp per step clockwise around the circle of fifths: E minor sits between A minor and B minor.
The notes of the key are the E natural minor scale: E F♯ G A B C D. Relative major: G major (same notes). Parallel major: E major (same starting note).
Progressions in E minor
Press play to hear i–VI–III–VII in E minor, then use the key menu to move it.
In E minor, 4 beats per chord. Open in the progression builder
- iEm
- VIC
- IIIG
- VIID
| Progression | In E minor | |
|---|---|---|
| i–VI–III–VII the minor anthem | Em – C – G – D | |
| i–iv–V the minor cadence | Em – Am – B – Em | |
| i–VII–VI–V the Andalusian cadence | Em – D – C – B | |
| i–VII–VI–VII the epic minor loop | Em – D – C – D |
Making E minor chords pull harder
These chords borrow one note from outside the key to set up the next chord, the way V7 sets up I.
- V7 of III
- V7 of iv
- V7 of v
- V7 of VI
- V7 of VII
Chords borrowed from the parallel key
Minor-key songs often take chords from E major, the parallel major: A (IV), E (I) and F♯m (ii). The major IV gives a brighter, Dorian lift, and ending a minor piece on the major I is the old "Picardy third".
Seventh chords in E minor
Add the next note of the scale on top of each chord and you get the key's seventh chords: Em7, F♯m7♭5, Gmaj7, Am7, Bm7, Cmaj7 and D7. With the borrowed major V it becomes B7.
Playing in E minor on guitar
E minor is one of the open-chord keys: Em, G, Am, C and D all use open strings, and only F♯dim and Bm need a barre or a partial barre.
Transpose a chord chart · How a capo works
Other keys
Key of E minor: questions
What chords are in the key of E minor?
Em, F♯dim, G, Am, Bm, C and D. As numerals: i = Em, ii° = F♯dim, III = G, iv = Am, v = Bm, VI = C, VII = D. Most songs in E minor also use B (major V) in place of Bm.
How many sharps or flats are in E minor?
One sharp (F♯).
What is the relative major of E minor?
G major. It uses the same key signature; the difference is which chord feels like home.
What are the i, iv and V chords in E minor?
Em (i), Am (iv) and B (V, borrowed from the harmonic minor).
How do I play in E minor on guitar with a capo?
You don't need one: E minor uses open chord shapes directly.
Computed from E F♯ G A B C D and tested. Updated September 2026.