Chord · E Major
E Chord
E is E, G# and B — bright, stable. The reference triad.
E on every instrument
The same 3 notes, 6 sets of hands. Open a diagram for alternate shapes, audio and the mistakes to avoid.
What E is made of
E (E major) is built from the notes E, G#, B, with the interval pattern 1, 3, 5.
Stack 1, 3 and 5 on a root of E and you get E, G# and B. That interval recipe is what makes the chord a major chord — move the same shape to another root and the character travels with it, which is why C sounds like a transposed E.
Major: Bright, stable. The reference triad.
Spelling: the notes above are written the way a score would write them, not simplified to the nearest piano key. That is why this chord is spelled with G♯ rather than its enharmonic equivalent.
Keys that contain E
All 3 notes sit inside the scale of 8 keys. The roman numeral marks the degree the chord is rooted on.
Other chords on E
Same root, different colour.
The same major shape, moved
The identical interval recipe, built on other roots.
Questions people ask about E
- What notes are in the E chord?
- E is made of E, G# and B — the 1, 3 and 5 degrees of a major chord built on E.
- What keys use the E chord?
- Every note of E belongs to 8 keys: A Major (V), E Major (I), B Major (IV), Cb Major (IV), F# Minor (VII), C# Minor (III), G# Minor (VI), Ab Minor (VI). The roman numeral is the scale degree the chord is rooted on.
- How do you play E on guitar and piano?
- This page shows E on guitar, piano, ukulele, bass, mandolin and banjo — 24 voicings in total. Each diagram links to the full instrument page with alternate shapes, audio and common mistakes.
Learn the theory behind it
Why E behaves the way it does — the guides that explain the chord instead of just spelling it.