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E minor chord

E minor Minor family

Darker and more personal. Sad, or just thoughtful.

Easiest shape1 of 4

Square: the root. In colour: the minor 3rd, which gives the chord its sound.

Change a finger and see what it becomes

Built from

Eroot
Gminor 3rd
B5th

Lowering the 3rd by one fret is the only difference from major, and it changes the whole mood.

Tension: At rest

Hear it in a progression

Epic minor
Film scores and stadium anthems. In E minor.
Capo and transpose
1. Emi
2. CVI
3. GIII
4. DVII
Minor cadence
Dark, then a strong pull home. In E minor.
Capo and transpose
1. Emi
2. Amiv
3. B7V7
4. Emi
Andalusian cadence
Flamenco and surf rock, stepping down. In E minor.
Capo and transpose
1. Emi
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.
G
Its relative major: same key, brighter. Both have G and B.
C
Shares 2 of its notes. Both have E and G.
C7
Shares 2 of its notes. Both have E and G.

Scales that fit

Notes you can play over this chord, simplest first.

Keys it lives in