E minor · Piano
Em Chord on Piano
The Em chord (E minor) is built from the notes E, G and B. The keyboard diagram below shows exactly which keys to press.
Chord diagrams
Notes in this chord
- E
- G
- B
Degrees: 1 – ♭3 – 5
How to play
To play Em on piano, press E, G and B together. In root position the lowest note is E, and the finger numbers follow the keys left to right in the diagram.
Theory behind the chord
Minor chords sound darker than major ones because the third is lowered by a semitone. They carry the melancholic colour in most songs and pair naturally with their relative major. On Em this structure sits on the root E, so the degrees 1 – ♭3 – 5 map onto E, G and B. Em is the vi chord in the key of G major, the ii chord in D major and the iii chord in C major. Its relative major is G. It is often heard in the Em – C – G – D progression.
Frequently asked questions
- Which notes are in the Em chord?
- Em contains the notes E, G and B. Relative to the root these are the degrees 1 – ♭3 – 5.
Practise Em on your phone
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