Violin · Level 3 · Beginner
Playing in a minor key in E minor on Violin
Don’t just read about Playing in a minor key in E minor. Play it.
Create a free TempoJam account in 30 seconds. Then try the tuner, metronome and Jam Room free for 14 days and record your first take tonight.
In a minor key the home chord is minor, and so are the chords on the fourth and fifth notes. This progression is the simplest way to hear what a minor key feels like.
Em
Notes: E · G · B
Am
Notes: A · C · E
Bm
Notes: B · D · F♯
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord as an arpeggio, one note at a time: Em, Am and Bm. Press play on the card, then match each note.
- Stay in first position: use the open string where you can and keep the fingers close to the string.
- Set the tempo to 53 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Play slightly softer than in a major key and let each chord ring for the whole bar.
- Play the chord tones one at a time, one note per beat, with a full, even bow on each.
- Raise the tempo to 70 BPM once you can play the loop three times without stopping.
- Record one take, listen back and check for a calm, settled feeling when you arrive back on i.
Listen for
Aim for a calm, settled feeling when you arrive back on i. A common mistake is playing the minor v as major by habit.
Why it works
These chords come from the natural minor scale. Later lessons raise the third of v to make a stronger pull home.
E minor has 1 sharp; its relative major key is G major.
Questions
What are the chords in i–iv–v–i in E minor?
In E minor the progression is Em | Am | Bm | Em.
What is the key signature of E minor?
E minor has 1 sharp. Its relative major is G major.
Is this lesson right for my level?
This is a level 3 lesson (beginner). If it feels too hard, start with “Suspended chords”.
Your hands learn faster than your eyes.
Reading a chord chart is step one. Play it to a metronome, record it, and hear yourself get better, all in one app.
Start practising free