E minor

E minor is a minor scale based on E, consisting of the pitches E, F♯, G, A, B, C, and D. Its key signature has one sharp. Its relative major is G major and its parallel major is E major.

The E natural minor scale is:

Changes needed for the melodic and harmonic versions of the scale are written in with accidentals as necessary. The E harmonic minor and melodic minor scales are:

Much of the classical guitar repertoire is in E minor, as this is a very natural key for the instrument. In standard tuning (E A D G B E), four of the instrument's six open (unfretted) strings are part of the tonic chord. The key of E minor is also popular in heavy metal music, as its tonic is the lowest note on a standard-tuned guitar.

Scale degree chords

• Tonic – E minor
• Supertonic – F-sharp diminished
• Mediant – G major
• Subdominant – A minor
• Dominant – B minor
• Submediant – C major
• Subtonic – D major

Notable compositions

See also

• Key (music)
• Major and minor
• Chord (music)
• Chord notation

References

External links

• Media related to E minor at Wikimedia Commons