Em, minor chord
E, G and B
- Root
- E
- Minor third
- G
- Perfect fifth
- B
Formula
1 ♭3 5 (3, 7 half steps above E)
Fingering in root position
| Notes | E | G | B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 1 |
E minor inversions
E minor has 2 inversions. Each one keeps the same notes and puts a different one at the bottom, so your hand can stay close to the chord before or after it.
Em
Root position
| Notes | E | G | B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 1 |
Em/G
First inversion
| Notes | G | B | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 1 |
Em/B
Second inversion
| Notes | B | E | G |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 2 | 1 |
Keys with E minor
Roman numerals give a chord's place in a key: capitals for major chords, small letters for minor, ° for diminished. E minor appears as:
- i in E minor
- vi in G major
- ii in D major
- iii in C major
- iv in B minor
- v in A minor
How E minor is built
E is the root, G the minor third and B the perfect fifth.
A minor chord is a root, the minor third 3 half steps above it and the perfect fifth 7 half steps above it. Raise the middle note by one key and E minor becomes E major.
Every chord takes every other letter of the alphabet, so the letters of E minor are E, G, B. That is why it is spelled E, G and B.
Find E minor yourself
Without looking at the diagrams, find the chord on the keyboard, then each inversion. Saying the notes out loud as you tap them helps them stick.
Step 1 of 3
Tap the notes of E minor, in any octave and any order.
Practice E minor in real music
MasterPiano gives you new music to read at your level and listens as you play, through a MIDI keyboard or your device's microphone, marking each note right or wrong.
Start freeQuestions
What notes are in the E minor chord?
E minor (Em) has three notes: E, G and B. E is the root, G the minor third and B the perfect fifth.
What fingers do you use for E minor on piano?
In root position, play E, G and B with right hand fingers 1, 3 and 5 (thumb, middle finger and little finger) and left hand fingers 5, 3 and 1. The fingers change a little in each inversion; every inversion on this page shows its own.
What are the inversions of E minor?
E minor has 2 inversions, one for each note other than the root at the bottom. First inversion (Em/G): G, B and E. Second inversion (Em/B): B, E and G.
What key is E minor in?
E minor is i in E minor, its home key. It also appears as vi in G major, ii in D major, iii in C major, iv in B minor and v in A minor.