E Minor
Key Signature
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Tonic | E |
| Mode | Minor |
| Accidentals | 1 sharp |
| Key Signature Notes | F# |
E minor has one sharp (F#) and is the most guitar-friendly minor key. It is widely used in rock, classical, and folk music for its open, resonant sound.
Diatonic Chords
The seven diatonic chords of E Minor — each built on a scale degree using only the notes of the key signature:
| Degree | Roman Numeral | Chord Type | Chord |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | i | Minor | E Minor |
| 2 | ii° | Diminished | F# Diminished |
| 3 | III | Major | G Major |
| 4 | iv | Minor | A Minor |
| 5 | v | Minor | B Minor |
| 6 | VI | Major | C Major |
| 7 | VII | Major | D Major |
Related Keys
- Relative Major
- G Major — shares the same key signature.
- Parallel Major
- E Major — same tonic, different key signature.
See all key relationships on the Circle of Fifths.
Scales in E Minor
Common scales built from the E tonic:
Transposing Instrument Context
Sharp-key signatures like E Minor are comfortable for open-string instruments (guitar, violin). Bb instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor saxophone) read in F# minor to sound E Minor. Eb instruments (alto saxophone, Eb clarinet) read in C# minor to sound E Minor. Standard guitar tuning (E A D G B E) resonates naturally in E Minor.