Key of E minor
The key of E minor has one sharp — F♯. Its natural minor scale runs E F♯ G A B C D, and building a triad on each of those seven notes — stacking thirds from the scale itself — produces the key's seven chords.
That gives three minor chords, three major chords and one diminished chord. Home base is Em (i), flanked by Am (iv) and Bm (v); the majors G (III), C (VI) and D (VII) brighten the key, and F♯° (ii°) appears mostly as a passing chord.
Relative major: G major — the same seven chords, with G as home base.
The seven chords of E minor
Common questions
- What chords are in the key of E minor?
- The seven chords in the key of E minor are Em (i), F♯° (ii°), G (III), Am (iv), Bm (v), C (VI) and D (VII).
- What is the relative major of E minor?
- G major. The two keys share the same key signature and the same seven chords — G major simply treats G, not Em, as home.
- How many sharps or flats does E minor have?
- E minor has one sharp: F♯.