The E Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (2024)

The E Minor scale is a 7 note scale that uses the following notes:

E, F#, G, A, B, C, D

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The scale is usually written as starting and ending on E and it can be repeating at higher or lower octaves. E Minor is a diatonic scale, which means that it is in a key, in this case the key of E Minor!

The Natural Minor Scale

There are three types of minor scale: the natural minor, harmonic minor and melodic minor. In this post we will stick to E Natural Minor Scale, but you learn aboutE Harmonic MinorandE Melodic Minorin our other articles.

How is the E Natural Minor scale created?

All Natural Minor scales follow a specific pattern of tones and semitones (steps and half steps). The tone pattern is:

Tone, Semitone, Tone, Tone, Semitone, Tone, Tone

If we take the start at a C and follow the pattern we will get the C Natural Minor Scale. To create the E Natural Minor scale, follow the tone/semitone pattern starting on the note E.

Whichever note you start on, you will always achieve the minor scale starting on this note.

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E Minor Scale on the Piano

As you can see, if we were to play this scale on the piano diagram we only use the white keys.

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To play this scale on the piano use the fingers written below.

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E Minor Scale on the Guitar

To play the E Natural Minor scale on the guitar use the tab below.

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Degrees of the Scale: E Minor

Each note in the E Minor scale has a position that we call the degree of the scale. The first note of the scale is called the ‘tonic’ note.

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Key Signature for E Minor

Rather than writing the sharp signs on the individual notes, we can now make use of the key signature. E Minor is the relative minor of G Major. You can work this out because E is the sixth note of G Major.

This means that they both share the same key signature, which has one sharp, F#.

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Here is the full scale written out with the key signature.

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E Minor Scale in Different Clefs

Treble Clef

Below is the E Natural Minor Scale written out in the treble clef, both ascending and descending.

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Bass Clef

Below is the E Natural Minor Scale written out in the bass clef, both ascending and descending.

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Alto Clef

Below is the E Natural Minor Scale written out in the alto clef, both ascending and descending.

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Tenor Clef

Below is the E Natural Minor Scale written out in the tenor clef, both ascending and descending.

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What is the Relative Major of E Minor

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As you can see from the circle of fifths diagram E Minor is the relative minor of G Major. Or to say it another way: G Major is the relative major of E Minor. This means that G Major and E Minor share the same key signature and have one sharp, F#.

This means that both scales are identical except for the fact that E Minor starts on an ‘E’ and G Major starts on a ‘G’.

What are the chords in the E Minor scale?

There are chords starting on each note of the E Minor Scale. To learn more, see our dedicated post onE Minor Chords.

What do we mean when we say a piece is ‘in the key of A Minor’?

If we say that a piece of music is in the key of E Minor, this means a few things:

  • The key signature will have one sharp (F#) and the relative major is G major.
  • The tonic (or root note) of the piece will be E natural. This note will sound the most stable in the whole piece.
  • The piece will mostly use notes from this scale, these could be in any octave.
  • The chords used will be those chords that are in E Minor.

What’s next….

  • Learn more about the different types of minor scales with our complete guide.
  • Learn about the circle of fifths and how it can help you better understand music theory.
The E Minor Scale: A Complete Guide - Jade Bultitude (2024)
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