E MINor
Chords in the key of
The scale’s notes are numbered from 1 to 7. Roman numerals are used to label the basic triad (1-3-5) chords built on each of those notes.
The notes of the E natural minor scale are:
E — F# — G — A — B — C — D
| i | ii° | III | iv | v | VI | VII |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Em | F#dim | G | Am | Bm | C | D |
| E minor | F sharp diminished | G major | A minor | B minor | C major | D major |
| E - G - B | F# - A - C | G - B - D | A - C - E | B - D - F# | C - E - G | D - F# - A |
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That’s the diatonic set. If you stay strictly inside the key, these are your friends. The pattern of naming chords for every minor key is:
Minor, Diminished, Major, Minor, Minor, Major, Major. Numerals in UPPERCASE (I, IV, V) denote major chords, and numerals in lowercase (ii, iii, vi) denote minor chords.
E Minor: Extended Chords
E HARMONIC Minor: RESOLVING + cinematic
E natural/diatonic minor often borrows the 7th note from E harmonic minor; it’s just one semitone higher but creates and resolves tension far better than its diatonic counterpart.
This raises E minor’s D to D#, which affects E minor’s III, v, & VII chords:
| III+ | V | vii° |
|---|---|---|
| Gaug | B | D#dim |
| G augmented | B major | D# diminished |
| G - B - D# | B - D# - F# | D# - F# - A |
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