E minor

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E minor
{ \magnifyStaff #3/2 \omit Score.TimeSignature \key e \minor s16 \clef F \key e \minor s^"" }
Relative keyG major
Parallel keyE major
Dominant keyB minor
SubdominantA minor
Component pitches
E, F♯, G, A, B, C, D

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.[1]


The E natural minor scale is:

{ \omit Score.TimeSignature \relative c' { \key e \minor \time 7/4 e^"E natural minor scale" fis g a b c d e d c b a g fis e2 \clef F \key e \minor } }

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:

{ \omit Score.TimeSignature \relative c' { \key e \minor \time 7/4 e^"E harmonic minor scale" fis g a b c dis e dis c b a g fis e2 } }
{ \omit Score.TimeSignature \relative c' { \key e \minor \time 7/4 e^"E melodic minor scale (ascending and descending)" fis g a b cis dis e d? c? b a g fis e2 } }

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[edit]

Notable compositions[edit]

See also: List of symphonies in E minor

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Notation" BBC Bitesize. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  2. ^ "Symphony No. 9 in E minor, 'From the New World’ – Largo by Antonín Dvořák" BBC. Retrieved 2023-06-14.

External links[edit]

  • Media related to E minor at Wikimedia Commons
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