E minor

{{Short description|Minor scale based on E}}

{{Infobox musical scale

| name=E minor
{ \magnifyStaff #3/2 \omit Score.TimeSignature \key e \minor s16 \clef F \key e \minor s^"" }

| relative=G major

| parallel=E major

| dominant=B minor

| subdominant=A minor

| first_pitch=E

| second_pitch=F{{Music|sharp}}

| third_pitch=G

| fourth_pitch=A

| fifth_pitch=B

| sixth_pitch=C

| seventh_pitch=D

}}

E minor is a minor scale based on E, consisting of the pitches E, F♯ (musical note), G, A, B, C, and D. Its key signature has one sharp, on the F. Its relative major is G major and its parallel major is E major.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z6ch8xs/revision/4 "Notation"] BBC Bitesize. Retrieved 2023-06-14.

The E natural minor scale is:

{{block indent|

\header { tagline = ##f }

scale = \relative f' { \key e \minor \omit Score.TimeSignature

e^"E natural minor scale" fis g a b c d e d c b a g fis e2 \clef F \key e \minor }

\score { { << \cadenzaOn \scale \context NoteNames \scale >> } \layout { } \midi { } }

}}

Changes needed for the melodic and harmonic versions of the scale are written in with accidentals as necessary. The E harmonic minor and melodic minor scales are:

{{block indent|

\header { tagline = ##f }

scale = \relative f' { \key e \minor \omit Score.TimeSignature

e^"E harmonic minor scale" fis g a b c dis e dis! c b a g fis e2 \clef F \key e \minor }

\score { { << \cadenzaOn \scale \context NoteNames \scale >> } \layout { } \midi { } }

}}

{{block indent|

\header { tagline = ##f }

scale = \relative f' { \key e \minor \omit Score.TimeSignature

e^"E melodic minor scale (ascending and descending)" fis g a b cis dis e d? c? b a g fis e2 \clef F \key e \minor }

\score { { << \cadenzaOn \scale \context NoteNames \scale >> } \layout { } \midi { } }

}}

Much of the classical guitar repertoire is in E minor, as this is a very natural key for the instrument. In standard tuning (E A D G B E), four of the instrument's six open (unfretted) strings are part of the tonic chord. The key of E minor is also popular in heavy metal music, as its tonic is the lowest note on a standard-tuned guitar.