Chord progression · E minor

The epic minor progression (i–VI–III–VII) in E minor

A dramatic, anthemic minor loop used all over rock, pop and film music. It’s the pop progression’s darker twin — the same chords, starting from the minor chord.

Chords in E minor
Em→C→G→D
Numerals
iVIIIIVII

Play along

4 bars of 4 beats, looping · pick a key above to transpose

1Emi
2CVI
3GIII
4DVII

Strum pattern: ↓   ↓↑  ↑↓↑ (down, down-up, up-down-up) — count “1 2 & 3 & 4 &”. Learn this strum →

The chords

i Em
E1B2EGBE
G3EE1B
C4EGBC5E G B
VI C
×3C2EG1CE
GCE1C
C4EGCC/E
III G
2G1BDGB3G
G1D3G2B
C4DGBC5G/D
VII D
××D1A3D2F♯
1A2D3F♯A
C4DAC5F♯D F♯ A

Piano voicings use inversions so each chord is as close as possible to the one before — your hand barely moves. Switch to “Root position” to compare.