Diatonic Chords of E Minor Scale

How to create diatonic chords in E minor scale?

E Minor Scale

E – F♯ – G – A – B – C – D – E are the notes of the E minor scale.

e minor scale
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Diatonic chords are formed by stacking two generic third notes above each scale note.

e minor diatonic chord

 E Minor Diatonic Chords

These are the seven minor scale diatonic chords that come from the E minor scale.

e minor diatonic chord
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Each diatonic chord is labelled with a roman numeral number.

e minor diatonic chord

All natural minor scales follow the same chord quality pattern:

i,  iiº,  III,  iv,  v,  VI,  VII

We use uppercase roman numeral numbers to represent major chords, lowercase to represent minor chords, uppercase with a small plus sign to represent augmented chords, and lowercase with a small circle to represent diminished chords.

1, 4 and 5 chords in natural minor will always be minor chords. 3, 6 and 7 chords in natural minor scale will always be major chords. 2 chord in natural minor scale will always be diminished chord. A different pattern applies to harmonic minor: i   iiº   III+   iv   V   VI   viiº and melodic minori   ii   III+  IV V  viº viiº

There are a total of 13 minor scale diatonic chords that harmonize the E minor scale. (7 in natural minor, 3 in harmonic minor and 3 more in melodic minor) 

The seven diatonic chords in the E natural minor key are:

i  —  E minor chord  ( E – G – B )
iiº  —  F Sharp diminished chord  ( F♯ – A – C )
III  —  G major chord  ( G – B – D )
iv  —  A minor chord  ( A – C – E )
v  —  B minor chord  ( B – D – F♯ )
VI  —  C major chord  ( C – E – G )
VII  —  D major chord  ( D – F♯ – A )

The three diatonic chords in the E harmonic minor are:

III+  —  G augmented chord  ( G – B – D♯ )
V  —  B major chord  ( B – D♯ – F♯ )
viiº  —  D sharp diminished chord  ( D♯ – F♯ – A )

The three diatonic chords in the E melodic minor are:

ii  —  F Sharp minor chord  ( F♯ – A – C♯ )
IV  —  A major chord  ( A – C♯ – E )
viº  —  C sharp diminished chord  ( C♯ – E – G )

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Minor Scale Diatonic Chords in Other Keys

Diatonic Chords in C minor key
Diatonic Chords in C sharp minor key
Diatonic Chords in D minor key
Diatonic Chords in D sharp minor key / E flat minor key
Diatonic Chords in E minor key
Diatonic Chords in F minor key
Diatonic Chords in F sharp minor key
Diatonic Chords in G minor key
Diatonic Chords in G sharp minor key / A flat minor key
Diatonic Chords in A minor key
Diatonic Chords in A sharp minor key / B flat minor key
Diatonic Chords in B minor key

Piano Chord Progression Poster

This practical piano chord progression poster from Amazon is a perfect reference chart to all 24 major and minor chord sets — The Really Useful Piano Chord Progression Poster – A1 Size – Folded Version

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