Chord
E Minor 6 Chord
Interactive keyboard
Highlighted notes form this chord.
Notes
E · G · B · C♯
Root: E
Intervals
1 · ♭3 · 5 · 6
How it is built
This chord starts on E and applies the intervals 1, ♭3, 5, 6. The result contains 4 distinct pitch classes per octave.
Explore related combinations
Guide and musical context
About E Minor 6 Chord
E Minor 6 Chord contains E, G, B, C♯. Its sound is melancholic yet smooth, with a more sophisticated color than a plain minor triad.
Character and sound
Melancholic yet smooth, with a more sophisticated color than a plain minor triad.
Musical context and history
The minor-sixth chord combines a minor triad with a major sixth. It is a familiar color in jazz, popular song, bossa nova and chromatic voice-leading.
How and where it is used
It can act as a colored minor tonic or as a voice-leading device in chromatic progressions.
In Theory view you can hear the pitch collection without depending on a specific fingering. Then switch to Piano, Guitar, Ukulele or Mandolin to see how the same notes are physically distributed on each instrument.
Harmonic and musical relationships
The E minor harmony can be compared with its parallel major, which keeps the same root, and its relative major at G. The dominant a fifth above, B, is another important reference.
The formula on this page is 1 · ♭3 · 5 · 6 and, from E, produces the notes E · G · B · C♯.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the E Minor 6 Chord?
The notes are E, G, B, C♯.
What is its interval formula?
The formula is 1 · ♭3 · 5 · 6.
How does it sound and what is it used for?
Melancholic yet smooth, with a more sophisticated color than a plain minor triad. It can act as a colored minor tonic or as a voice-leading device in chromatic progressions.
Can I view it on a specific instrument?
Yes. Use the selector near the top to switch between Piano, Guitar, Ukulele and Mandolin without changing the musical combination you are studying.