HandyChords

E chord on guitar

E Major. Notes: E, G# and B.

E guitar chord diagram, open position2B53ER1G#3EBEG#BE
Open position · Easy

How to play E

  1. Put your index finger on the 3rd (G) string at fret 1 (G#).
  2. Put your middle finger on the 5th (A) string at fret 2 (B).
  3. Put your ring finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 2 (E).
  4. Let the open low E, B and high E strings ring.
  5. Strum from the low E string down.
Lowest note: E (the root)Strings played: 6 of 6Other voicings: 3 below

All 4 ways to play E

Easiest first. Tap play to hear each one.
E guitar chord, open position2B53ER1G#3EBEG#BE

Open position

Easy
E guitar chord, fret 2 position2fr××1ER2B54ER3G#3EBEG#

Fret 2 position

Medium
E guitar chord, barre at fret 44fr×4ER3G#31B52ER1G#3EG#BEG#

Barre at fret 4

Hard
E guitar chord, barre at fret 77fr×1ER2B53ER4G#31B5EBEG#B

Barre at fret 7

Hard

Notes and theory

Eroot
G#3 · major third
B5 · perfect fifth

The major triad is the bright, settled chord that most songs start and end on. The formula is 1 3 5, and you will also see it written as Emaj and EM.

Keys that use E

E major IA major VB major IVC sharp minor IIIF sharp minor VIIG sharp minor VI
E on ukuleleE on piano

More E chords

All E guitar chords
Em guitar chord diagram2B53EREBEGBEEmminorE7 guitar chord diagram2B51G#3EBDG#BEE7dominant seventhEm7 guitar chord diagram2B53ER4Db7EBEGDEEm7minor seventhEmaj7 guitar chord diagram3B51D#72G#3EBD#G#BEEmaj7major seventhEsus4 guitar chord diagram1ER2A4EAEABEEsus4suspended fourthEsus2 guitar chord diagram9fr1F#22B53EREF#BEBEEsus2suspended secondEdim guitar chord diagram×××1ER2Bbb53Gb3EBbGEdimdiminishedEaug guitar chord diagram4C#53ER1G#32C#5ECEG#CEEaugaugmentedE6 guitar chord diagram2B53ER1G#34C#6EBEG#C#EE6major sixthE9 guitar chord diagram2B51G#33F#9EBDG#BF#E9dominant ninthEadd9 guitar chord diagram2B53ER1G#34F#9EBEG#BF#Eadd9added ninthEm7b5 guitar chord diagram1Bbb52ER3Bbb53Db73Gb3EBbEBbDGEm7b5half-diminishedEdim7 guitar chord diagram1Bbb52ER3Dbbb7EBbEGDbEEdim7diminished seventhE7sus4 guitar chord diagram2B53A4EBDABEE7sus4dominant seventh suspended fourthE5 guitar chord diagram×××2B53EREBEE5power chordEm6 guitar chord diagram1B52ER3C#6EBEGC#EEm6minor sixthEm9 guitar chord diagram2B54F#9EBDGBF#Em9minor ninthEmaj9 guitar chord diagram3B51D#72G#34F#9EBD#G#BF#Emaj9major ninth

E with another bass note

E/AE/AbE/BE/BbE/CE/C#E/DE/EbE/FE/F#E/G

major chords in every key

CC#DD#EFF#GG#AA#B

Questions

What notes are in the E chord?

E (E major) is made of three notes: E (root), G# (major third) and B (perfect fifth).

How do you play E on guitar?

The easiest E is the "open position" shape. Put your index finger on the 3rd (G) string at fret 1 (G#). Put your middle finger on the 5th (A) string at fret 2 (B). Put your ring finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 2 (E).

Is E hard to play on guitar?

No. The easiest version is rated easy and uses 3 fretted notes plus open strings.

What is the difference between E and Em?

Only the third changes. E major uses a major third and sounds bright; E minor lowers that note by a half step, which makes it sound darker. The root and the fifth stay the same.

What key is E in?

E belongs to 6 keys: E major (as the I chord), A major (as the V chord), B major (as the IV chord), C sharp minor (as the III chord), F sharp minor (as the VII chord) and G sharp minor (as the VI chord).

What does a major chord sound like?

The major triad is the bright, settled chord that most songs start and end on.