Learn › E Minor Chord on Piano (Em)

New Released in April 2026

E Minor Chord on Piano (Em)

Em, the E minor chord, stacks G and B on top of E. Find E, skip a key for the third, another for the fifth: all three notes are white keys, the same easy shape as C major. Learn the shape, the inversions and the fingering, then practise it by playing.

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MIDI keyboard
Digital or acoustic piano
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Em E G B

Three ways to play Em

Whichever note is lowest, it is still Em.

Em E G B

Root position: E G B

Em G B E

1st inversion: G B E

Em B E G

2nd inversion: B E G

Playing Em with each hand

Hand	E	G	B
Right hand	1 (thumb)	3 (middle)	5 (little)
Left hand	5 (little)	3 (middle)	1 (thumb)

Keep the fingers curved and land on E, G and B at the same moment; if one note is quieter, that finger is too flat.

E minor: all 7 chords

Every chord built on the notes of E minor, with Em as home.

Degree	Chord	Notes
i	Em	E G B
ii°	F#dim	F# A C
III	G	G B D
iv	Am	A C E
v	Bm	B D F#
VI	C	C E G
VII	D	D F# A

E minor in four facts

Keyboard shape

All three notes are white keys, the same easy shape as c major.

Key signature

Em is the relative minor of G major: 1 sharp.

Tension and release

B7 (B D# F# A) creates the tension that settles on Em.

Em in real chord progressions

Three major keys contain Em:

vi in G major
ii in D major
iii in C major

Relative major: G · Parallel major: E

A common progression from Em (i - VI - III - VII): Em → C → G → D. Say each chord name as you play it.

ChordRunner showing a chord block while hands play the piano

Train Em in a game

ChordRunner sends Em at you between other chords and checks every note you play. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.

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All piano chords · Piano chord chart

Common questions

Which keys make a E minor chord on the piano?

Press E, G and B together. Any octave works, and any order of those three notes is still Em.

What chord leads to Em?

B7, its dominant 7th. Play B7 and then Em: the tension of the 7th chord resolves into Em.

Is Em a major or minor chord?

Em is minor: its third is G. Its relative major partner is G.

Your instrument is the controller.

ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.

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E Minor Chord on Piano (Em)

Three ways to play Em

Playing Em with each hand

E minor: all 7 chords

E minor in four facts

Keyboard shape

Key signature

Tension and release

Em in real chord progressions

Train Em in a game

Common questions

Which keys make a E minor chord on the piano?

What chord leads to Em?

Is Em a major or minor chord?

Your instrument is the controller.

Keep learning

Piano Chords: Every Chord, Beginner to Pro

E Major Chord on Piano (E)

G Major Chord on Piano (G)

Piano Chord Chart: Every Chord in All 12 Keys

Chord Training That Feels Like a Game

Master All 12 Major Chords on Piano