Chord progressions in E minor

The seven chords of E minor and the progressions producers use most, all spelled out in E minor. Press play to hear any of them, download the MIDI, or open one in the generator to change it.

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The chords in E minor

Notes: E F# G A B C D · E minor scale · Relative major: G major

Tap a chord to hear it. Each on its own page: Em · F#dim · G · Am · Bm · C · D

The minor anthem loop

E minor
EmiCVIGIIIDVII

i, VI, III, VII. The minor four-chord loop behind a huge share of house, EDM and pop.

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Epic minor

E minor
EmiDVIICVIDVII

i, VII, VI, VII. Rising and falling around the tonic, a staple of film music and trance.

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Minor with a lift

E minor
EmiAmivDVIIGIII

i, iv, VII, III. Starts dark and ends on a major chord, so the loop always wants to go round again.

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The epic cadence

E minor
CVIDVIIEmi

VI, VII, i. Two major chords climbing into the minor tonic: a classic way to land a big chorus or a drop.

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Two-chord minor

E minor
EmiDVII

i to VII. Two chords leave room for the groove; common in tech house, techno and hip hop.

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Minor sevenths

E minor
Em7i7Am7iv7

i7 to iv7. Soft and moody, with the colour in the sevenths. At home in deep house and lo-fi.

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Stepping down

E minor
EmiDVIICVIBmv

i, VII, VI, v. Walking down the scale from the tonic, a natural-minor version of the descending Andalusian cadence.

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Using these progressions

  • E minor and G major use the same notes, so progressions from either work in the same track.
  • Keep the bass on the root of each chord and play the chords above it, the way these progressions are voiced.
  • For house and techno, try the chords as short stabs on the offbeat; for pads, hold each chord for a whole bar.

Every progression on the site, in every key, as MIDI in one zip: free MIDI chord progressions.

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Chord progressions by key

Play these chords with VISIONS OF TOMORROW →71 Serum 2 presets for house and techno, with pads, keys, plucks and stabs made for chords like these. $29.

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Questions

What chords are in E minor?

Em, F#dim, G, Am, Bm, C, D. The second chord, F#dim, is diminished, so most progressions leave it out.

What is the relative major of E minor?

G major. The two keys share every note.

What are common chord progressions in E minor?

Em C G D (the minor anthem loop); Em D C D (epic minor); Em Am D G (minor with a lift).

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