E Minor Key Signature

E minor has 1 sharp — F♯. Here's the signature on the staff, the full scale, its relative major, and the trick to recognize it instantly.

key signature with 1 sharp
Accidentals
1 sharp — F♯
Minor scale
E, F♯, G, A, B, C, D
Relative major
G major
Tonic
E

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Reading the E Minor signature

E minor borrows its 1 sharp straight from its relative major, G major. Beyond the signature, minor keys typically raise the seventh degree into a leading tone, so expect an extra accidental in the music that the key signature never shows.

The E Minor scale

The E minor scale runs E, F♯, G, A, B, C, D. Every sharpened note in the piece takes the key's accidentals automatically, which is exactly what the signature saves you from writing note by note.

E Minor and its relative major

E minor shares its signature — 1 sharp — with its relative major, G major, a minor third above the tonic. They use the same seven pitches; what tells them apart is which note the music settles on and treats as home.

Neighboring keys on the circle of fifths

E Minor — frequently asked

How many sharps or flats does E minor have?

E minor has 1 sharp — F♯.

What is the relative major of E minor?

The relative major of E minor is G major — it shares the identical key signature (1 sharp).

What notes are in the E minor scale?

The E minor scale is E, F♯, G, A, B, C, D.

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