E minor is the guitarist's minor key: one sharp, the open low E string as its root, and Em, D, C and G all playable as open chords. Its full set is Em, F♯°, G, Am, Bm, C and D, with B standing in for Bm whenever a cadence needs bite. The relative major is G major, and the parallel major E major is one of the brightest keys on the instrument. Rock, metal and folk all lean on it.
The chords of E minor
Seven chords, one on each note of the scale. Songs in E minor often borrow B, the major V, for a stronger pull home.
Em is sounding: E, G and B.
E minor
EF♯GABCD
G major
GABCDEF♯
Make your own in E minor
The generator, set to E minor. Lock the chords you like, generate the rest, then download it as MIDI.
Chord names with spaces, up to 16.
More in and around E minor
- E minor: scale, chords and key signature
- G major chord progressions, its relative major
- E major chord progressions, its parallel major
- Sad chord progressions
- Minor chord progressions
- The Andalusian cadence
- The minor ii–V–i
- Move these chords to another key: the chord transposer
- Which key is your song in? The key finder
Piano sounds by the Salamander Grand Piano (Alexander Holm), CC BY 3.0.
