E minor chord
The E minor chord, written Em, has 3 notes: E, G and B. They are the root, minor third and perfect fifth above E (chord formula 1 ♭3 5).
- NotesE G B
- Chord symbolEm, Emin, E-
- Formula1 ♭3 5
- Half steps3 + 4
Em chord on the piano
Play E, G and B together. In root position E is at the bottom; the next note is 3 half steps higher, and the one after that 4 half steps above it. Press Play to hear the notes one at a time and then together.
Em chord on the staff, with inversions
An inversion keeps the same notes but puts a different one at the bottom. The chord symbol after a slash names the bass note.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top | Symbol |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | E G B | Em |
| First inversion | G B E | Em/G |
| Second inversion | B E G | Em/B |
Em chord on guitar
Each diagram shows the six strings from the low E on the left to the high E on the right. A dot is a fretted note, o is an open string, × is a string you do not play, and a bar across the strings is a barre held with one finger.
What is a minor chord?
A minor chord is a three-note chord made of a root, a minor third (3 half steps above the root) and a perfect fifth (7 half steps above the root). It is a major chord with the middle note lowered by one half step.
Darker and more serious than major. Many listeners hear it as sad or thoughtful, though tempo and context change the feeling a great deal.
Where you hear minor chords
It is the home chord (i) of every minor key, and it appears as the ii, iii and vi chords in major keys. Minor chords are common in ballads, rock, folk tunes and film music, often mixed with major chords for contrast.
Tip: Play the major chord first, then lower only the middle note by one half step. If you can hear the difference, you can hear major and minor.
Ways this chord type is written (shown for C): Cm, Cmin, C-, Cmi.
Which keys have the Em chord?
Em is built only from notes of these keys, so it appears in them naturally. The Roman numeral is its place in the key.
Check yourself
1. Which note is the third of the Em chord?
Answer: G. Em is built root, third, fifth: E, G and B. The second note, G, is the third.
2. What is the bass note of Em/G?
Answer: G. A slash chord names its bass note after the slash. Em/G is the first inversion, with G at the bottom.
3. How many half steps are there from E up to G in this chord?
Answer: 3. E to G is a minor third, which is 3 half steps.
Other E chords
Minor chords in every key
See also: piano chord chart, minor chords explained, chord inversions, chord progressions.