E minor

The key with one sharp

E minor has the same key signature as G major: one F♯. The natural minor scale begins on the sixth degree of the relative, here on E, and the semitone steps lie between the second and third and between the fifth and sixth degrees. As with every minor key there are three forms. In harmonic minor the seventh degree is raised to D♯, so that a leading tone and a major dominant arise.

E minor on the guitar

An open E major chord becomes E minor by lifting a single finger: the one on the third string, first fret. One finger, one semitone, a complete change of mood. The article Major and minor: the third as a switch describes this connection. The article The first year on the guitar introduces E minor as an extension of the first major shapes.

The chords of E minor

The seven degrees give Em, F♯°, G, Am, Bm, C and D. The dominant B becomes B major with the D♯. More about the degrees on the page Diatonic chords.

Pieces in E minor

Both sheets carry one sharp and begin on the note B (Chopin) and on Em (Horetzky) respectively.

Piano

• Prélude e-Moll Frédéric Chopin, op. 28 No. 4, from: 24 Préludes · piano · 1 page

  Headed “Largo”, in alla breve (cut time) with one sharp. The melody begins on B. The piece ends on a chord above the note E.

Guitar

• Dänische Weise Nr. 15 Felix Horetzky, from: 60 National Airs of Different Nations · guitar · 1 page

  2/4 with one sharp, “Andante con espress.” The first chord is Em. The second chord on the sheet is marked B7: the dominant seventh chord on B.

Common mistakes

• Confusing E minor and G major: Both have one sharp. The ending decides.
• Forgetting the D♯: In harmonic minor it appears as an accidental in the bar, not in the key signature.
• Spelling: Write the note letter as a capital and the mode word in lowercase: “E minor”, “E major”.