E Minor Scale

This guitar scale reference contains the notes, formula, structure, positions, chords, and modes for the E Minor scale. For an in-depth lesson on the minor scale, please see Minor Scale Positions & Theory.

Notes of E Minor Scale

The E Minor Scale contains one sharp, F#. The rest of the notes are all naturals.

E – F# – G – A – B – C – D

Scale Formula

IntervalsRootMajor 2ndMinor 3rdPerfect 4thPerfect 5thMinor 6thMinor 7th
NotesEF#GABCD

Scale Structure

E Minor is a minor scale and follows the minor scale structure of whole and half step intervals:

W H W W H W W

Whole step half step pattern for e minor scale

Scale Positions

The diagrams below outline the 5 CAGED positions for the E Minor scale.

Position 1

E minor scale position 1 diagram

Position 2

E minor scale position 2 diagram

Position 3

E minor scale position 3 diagram

Position 4

E minor scale position 4 diagram

Position 5

E minor scale position 5 diagram

Chords in the Key of E Minor

Degreeiii°IIIivvVIVII
ChordEmF#dimGAmBmCD
Chord NotesE – G – BF# – A – CG – B – DA – C – EB – D – F#C – E – GD – F# – A

Relative and Parallel Scales

Relative Major of E Minor: G major | G – Am – Bm – C – D – Em – F#dim

Parallel Major of E Minor: E major | E – F#m – G#m – A – B – C#m – Ddim

Modes

The following are the modes of E Minor:

  • G Ionian (Major)
  • A Dorian (Minor)
  • B Phrygian (Minor)
  • C Lydian (Major)
  • D Mixolydian (Major)
  • E Aeolian (Minor)
  • F# Locrian (Minor)