i6–iv in E Minor

Pattern: i6 – iv Chords: Em6 – Am

Chord Breakdown

Numeral	Chord	Type	Function
i6	Em6 (details)	minor sixth	Tonic
iv	Am (details)	minor	Subdominant

Harmonic Analysis

This progression moves through Em6 (Tonic) → Am (Subdominant).

The i6–iv progression moves from the minor sixth chord on the tonic to the subdominant minor. The added major sixth gives the tonic a ♭ittersweet brightness before settling into the darker subdominant, creating a wistful harmonic color. This motion is characteristic of jazz ballads and film noir scores where emotional ambiguity is desired.

Song Examples

My Funny Valentine — jazz standard
Autumn in New York — jazz standard
Cry Me a River — Julie London

Chord Details

Em6 Am

More Progressions in E Minor

i–♭VII–♭VI–V i–iv–v vi–IV–I–V i–iv–i–V iv–iv–i–V i–iv–i i–iv–V vi–V–IV–III i–♭VII i–♭III–♭VII i–♭VII–IV i–♭VII–♭VI

Related Progressions

i–iv–v–i i–imaj7–i7–iv v6–I