E Minor Scale
The E natural minor scale runs E, F sharp, G, A, B, C, D and back to E. Its one sharp is F sharp. Although the notes match G major, starting, ending and harmonizing around E gives the same collection a different center.
- Notes: E-F sharp-G-A-B-C-D
- Key signature: one sharp
- Relative major: G major
What notes are in E natural minor?
E-F sharp-G-A-B-C-D-E. Its steps are whole, half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole. F sharp-G and B-C are the half steps. Play those two pairs, then play the full line slowly from E to E.
The G is the minor third above E. Compare E-G-B, an E-minor chord, with E-G sharp-B, an E-major chord. Changing one note in the chord makes the difference especially clear.
Why does E minor have an F sharp?
A natural-minor pattern from E needs a whole step from E to F sharp, followed by a half step to G. F natural would put the half step in the wrong place. E minor's key signature therefore has one sharp, F sharp.
G major contains exactly the same seven pitch names. Over a sustained G, those notes can point toward G as home. Over E or an E-minor chord, they can point toward E. A key is more than the list of notes available in it.
Which chords are built from E natural minor?
Taking every other note yields Em, F sharp diminished, G, Am, Bm, C and D. The first chord is E-G-B. The fifth is B-D-F sharp, or B minor.
Now raise D to D sharp in the B chord. B-D sharp-F sharp is B major, and D sharp lies a half step below E. Play Bm-Em, then B-Em and listen to the different arrival. Minor-key music often uses that raised seventh even though it is outside the natural-minor scale. The Minor Scales explains the natural and harmonic forms.
What should you practice first?
Play E-F sharp-G-A-B-C-D-E. Then play E-G-B together and keep the chord sounding while you sing or play D-E above it. Repeat with D sharp-E. You now have both the seven-note pattern and a direct reason a minor piece might change its seventh note.