E minor scale

On the keys

Yellow is the starting note, and the same note again an octave up.

On the staff

One octave of E minor, with the key signature at the start of each staff. E minor has one sharp in its key signature: F sharp. The right hand reads the treble clef; the left plays the same notes two octaves lower, on the bass clef.

Fingering

One octave going up. The thumb is 1 and the little finger is 5. Coming down, play the same fingers in reverse order.

Key signature

E minor has one sharp in its key signature: F sharp. This is the natural minor, so it uses the key signature of its relative major, G major.

Harmonic and melodic minor

The natural minor is one of three minor scales. The harmonic minor raises the seventh note by a semitone, which gives E minor a leading note a semitone below the top: E, F sharp, G, A, B, C and D sharp. The melodic minor raises the sixth and seventh notes going up: E, F sharp, G, A, B, C sharp and D sharp. Coming down it goes back to the natural minor.

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