HandyChords

E chord on piano

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

E piano chord, root positionC4EBC5G#
Root position. Tap any key to hear it.

How to play E

  1. Find E at or above middle C. That is the root.
  2. Add G# and B above it, skipping the keys in between.
  3. Right hand fingering: 1-3-5 (thumb, middle, pinky). Left hand: 5-3-1 (pinky, middle, thumb).

Notes

Eroot
G#3 · major third
B5 · perfect fifth

E inversions

An inversion moves the lowest note up an octave. Same notes, smoother jumps between chords.

E Root positionC4EBC5G#

Root position

E · G# · B
E 1st inversionC4BC5EG#

1st inversion

G# · B · E
E 2nd inversionC4BC5EG#

2nd inversion

B · E · G#

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 guitarE on ukulele

More E chords

All E piano chords
Em piano chordC4EmminorE7 piano chordC4C5E7dominant seventhEm7 piano chordC4C5Em7minor seventhEmaj7 piano chordC4C5Emaj7major seventhEsus4 piano chordC4Esus4suspended fourthEsus2 piano chordC4Esus2suspended secondEdim piano chordC4EdimdiminishedEaug piano chordC4EaugaugmentedE6 piano chordC4C5E6major sixthE9 piano chordC4C5E9dominant ninthEadd9 piano chordC4C5Eadd9added ninthEm7b5 piano chordC4C5Em7b5half-diminishedEdim7 piano chordC4C5Edim7diminished seventhE7sus4 piano chordC4C5E7sus4dominant seventh suspended fourthE5 piano chordC4E5power chordEm6 piano chordC4C5Em6minor sixthEm9 piano chordC4C5Em9minor ninthEmaj9 piano chordC4C5Emaj9major ninth

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 piano?

Play E, G# and B together. With the right hand use fingers 1-3-5 (thumb, middle, pinky); with the left hand use 5-3-1 (pinky, middle, thumb).

What are the inversions of E?

Root position: E G# B. 1st inversion: G# B E. 2nd inversion: B E G#.

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.