E Minor Chord

How to play the E Minor Chord on the piano

Let’s go through some charts that will familiarize you with the E Minor Chord and how to play it in the various forms you will encounter in pieces of music. First, we’ll look at the fundamental chord and its inversions; then, we’ll explore some more complex voicings.

The E Minor Chord in root position

In root position, the notes of the E minor chord are stacked in thirds with E on the bottom. The appearance on the staff is evenly spaced, as is the feeling of the space in between your fingers while playing.

E Minor Chord in root position
Note Order	E G B
Left Hand Fingering	5 3 1
Right Hand Fingering	1 3 5
Chord Symbol	Em

The E Minor Chord in first inversion

In first inversion, the third of the chord (G) becomes the bottom note, and the root (E) jumps up to the top.

E Minor Chord in 1^st inversion
Note Order	G B E
Left Hand Fingering	5 3 1
Right Hand Fingering	1 2 5
Chord Symbol	Em⁶ or Em/G

The E Minor Chord in second inversion

In second inversion, the fifth of the chord (B) is on the bottom, and the third of the chord (G) goes to the top.

E Minor Chord in 2^nd inversion
Note Order	B E G
Left Hand Fingering	5 2 1
Right Hand Fingering	1 3 5
Chord Symbol	Em^6/4 or Em/B

E Minor Chord theory and function

A minor chord has the lowered third, which gives it a quieter, darker color. In a major key the minor chords play supporting roles. In a minor key the minor tonic chord is home.

The E minor chord is the supertonic (ii) in D major, the mediant (iii) in C major, and the submediant (vi) in G major. In minor keys, it is the tonic (i) in E minor, the subdominant (iv) in B minor, and the dominant (v) in A minor.

The place a student meets a minor chord most often is ii, leading to V and then home. In D major that is Em – A – D. In E minor the everyday pattern is i – iv – V – i: Em – Am – B – Em, where the major V comes from the raised seventh. A minor chord is also the relative minor of the major chord a minor third above it, so a piece can move between the two and change color without leaving the key.