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E minor 6 chord

E minor 6 Added family

Mysterious, film noir.

Easiest shape1 of 6

Square: the root. In colour: the 6th, which gives the chord its sound.

Change a finger and see what it becomes

Built from

Eroot
Gminor 3rd
B5th
C♯6th

A bright major 6th on top of a dark minor chord gives it an uneasy, cinematic edge.

Tension: Leaning

Hear it in a progression

Epic minor
Film scores and stadium anthems. In E minor.
Capo and transpose
1. Em6i
2. CVI
3. GIII
4. DVII
Minor cadence
Dark, then a strong pull home. In E minor.
Capo and transpose
1. Em6i
2. Amiv
3. B7V7
4. Em6i
Andalusian cadence
Flamenco and surf rock, stepping down. In E minor.
Capo and transpose
1. Em6i
2. DVII
3. CVI
4. BV

Where it goes next

Thinking in E minor, where it is the i chord.

C
VI. Opens up into something bittersweet.
Am
iv. Goes darker still.
D
VII. Steps down: a rock and folk staple.
G
III. Brightens into the relative major.

Sounds close

Cmaj7
Shares 3 of its notes. Both have E, G and B.
C♯m7
Shares 3 of its notes. Both have E, B and C♯.
C♯dim7
Shares 3 of its notes. Both have E, G and C♯.
A7
Shares 3 of its notes. Both have E, G and C♯.

Scales that fit

Notes you can play over this chord, simplest first.

E dorian

Keys it lives in