The Key of E minor
E minor is E – F♯ – G – A – B – C – D.
Why this key
E minor is the most guitar-native key there is. The open Em uses all six strings, the low E is the tonic, and Em, G, C, D and Am are all open shapes. If a rock song is in a minor key, this is the first place to check.
Every chord in E minor
Seven chords, built on each note of the scale in turn.
| Numeral | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| i | Em | minor |
| ii° | F#dim | dim |
| ♭III | G | major |
| iv | Am | minor |
| v | Bm | minor |
| ♭VI | C | major |
| ♭VII | D | major |
The scale, on the neck
E natural minor — E F♯ G A B C D.
E Natural Minor (Aeolian)
the plain minor scaleNotesEF♯GABCD
Chord-Scale Reference §3 / §7.4
Want more?
Hear these chords, change the key, and see every voicing in Turnaround