Fig. 1 · E minor

key signature

E minor

E1F♯2G3A4B5C6D7

1 sharp, written F♯

relative: G majorparallel: E majorthe scale

The chords that live in it

Emdegree 1 · minorF♯dimdegree 2 · diminishedGdegree 3 · majorAmdegree 4 · minorBmdegree 5 · minorCdegree 6 · majorDdegree 7 · major

Built by stacking thirds inside the scale and asking what quality comes out, rather than from a table of roman numerals.

What is true of it

E minor has 1 sharp.

They are written in this order, always: F♯.

Its notes are E, F♯, G, A, B, C and D.

Relative: G major has the same 1 sharp. Parallel: E major has 4 sharps, which is why changing mode changes the signature by three.

Every key

C♭ majorG♭ majorD♭ majorA♭ majorE♭ majorB♭ majorF majorC majorG majorD majorA majorE majorB majorF♯ majorC♯ majorA♭ minorE♭ minorB♭ minorF minorC minorG minorD minorA minorB minorF♯ minorC♯ minorG♯ minorD♯ minorA♯ minor