Chords in the Key of E Minor

The key of E minor has 7 chords: Em, F♯°, G, Am, Bm, C and D. Songs in E minor often use B too. Play them, see them with 7ths and numbers, and try common progressions.

E minor: 1 sharp (F♯)

Scale: E F♯ G A B C D · Relative major: G major

The 7 chords in the key of E minor (natural minor). Press a chord to hear it.
Roman	Nashville	Function
i	6m	tonic
ii°	7°	predominant
III	1	tonic
iv	2m	predominant
v	3m	dominant
VI	4	tonic or predominant
VII	5	dominant
V	3	dominant (harmonic minor)

Common progressions in E minor

i–VI–III–VIIEm C G D
i–iv–VEm Am B Em
Andalusian cadenceEm D C B
i–VII–VI–VIIEm D C D
i–iv–VII–IIIEm Am D G
iiø–V–iF♯m7♭5 B7 Em7
i–VI–VIIEm C D Em

No signup
Works in your browser
Your songs stay on your device

Guitar chords in E minor

Em i · 022000
F♯° ii° · 20x21x
G III · 320003
Am iv · x02210
Bm v · x24432
C VI · x32010
D VII · xx0232
B V · x24442

Key signature and scale

E minor has 1 sharp (F♯). The E minor scale is E – F♯ – G – A – B – C – D.

Its relative major is G major: same signature, same chords, a different home chord. Next to it on the circle of fifths are B minor (one more sharp or one less flat) and A minor (one more flat or one less sharp); songs often move to these keys.

Progressions in E minor

Progression	In E minor
i–VI–III–VII	Em C G D
i–iv–V	Em Am B Em
Andalusian cadence	Em D C B
i–VII–VI–VII	Em D C D

Press Play in the tool above to hear them, or Transpose to move a progression to another key. Need these chords in another key? Use the transposition chart.

Chords in other keys

Frequently asked questions

What chords are in the key of E minor?

The seven chords are Em, F♯°, G, Am, Bm, C and D (i, ii°, III, iv, v, VI, VII). Songs in E minor often use B too, the major V chord from the harmonic minor scale.

How many sharps or flats does E minor have?

E minor has 1 sharp: F♯. Its scale is E F♯ G A B C D.

What is the relative major of E minor?

G major. The two keys share the same key signature and the same seven chords; they differ in which chord feels like home.

Which chords in E minor are hard on guitar, and can a capo help?

Played without a capo the main chords are Em, Am, C, D, B. With a capo on fret 7 you can play Am shapes instead: Am, Dm, F, G, E, and it still sounds in E minor.

What is the V chord in E minor?

In natural minor it is Bm, but minor-key songs often use B (or B7) to lead back to Em.

Last updated: October 12, 2026