I-IV-V (the Three Chord Trick)
I · IV · V
The most fundamental progression in Western music.
Key of E
The Key of E Major
The chords in the key of E major are E, F♯m, G♯m, A, B, C♯m and D♯dim.
The most resonant key on a guitar.
Below: all seven diatonic chords with guitar shapes and audio, the scale, the key signature (F♯ · C♯ · G♯ · D♯), 8 progressions already transposed into this key, and the keys next door.
Diatonic chords
The 7 chords in the key of E major
Each degree of the E major scale carries one chord. Roman numerals show the degree; the function column tells you what the chord does. Every name links to its full chord page — press play to hear it on guitar.
| Degree | Function | Chord | Guitar shape | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | TonicTonicHome — rests | EE · G♯ · B | ||
| ii | SubdominantSupertonicDeparts — sets up the V | F♯mF♯ · A · C♯ | ||
| iii | TonicMediantHome — rests | G♯mG♯ · B · D♯ | ||
| IV | SubdominantSubdominantDeparts — sets up the V | AA · C♯ · E | ||
| V | DominantDominantPulls back to I | BB · D♯ · F♯ | ||
| vi | TonicSubmediantHome — rests | C♯mC♯ · E · G♯ | ||
| vii° | DominantLeading tonePulls back to I | D♯dimE♭ · G♭ · Aspelled D♯dim in E major · the chord page is E♭ Diminished |
Want the same chords on another instrument? Every chord page carries piano, ukulele, bass, mandolin and banjo shapes — start with piano.
Character
Why songs live in E major
E major puts the tonic on the lowest open string, so an E chord sustains longer and louder than anything else the instrument does. Blues, hard rock and flamenco all exploit that drone. Every chord you need — E, A, B7, C#m, F#m — is either open or one barre away.
Scale
The E major scale
Seven notes, in order from the tonic. Tap any note to hear it, or play the whole scale ascending.
Fretboard patterns and full scale reference: E Major (Ionian).
Key signature
The E major key signature
F♯ · C♯ · G♯ · D♯
E major is written with 4 sharps. Every F, C, G and D in the music is played sharp unless an accidental says otherwise. Its relative minor, C♯ minor, shares this signature exactly.
Progressions
Chord progressions in E major
The most-used progressions, already transposed into E major. Every chord links to its own page; the progression name opens the full breakdown.
I-V-vi-IV (the Pop Punk Progression)
I · V · vi · IV
The 4-chord pop progression that powers thousands of hits.
vi-IV-I-V (Sensitive Female)
vi · IV · I · V
The minor-flavored sibling of I-V-vi-IV.
I-vi-IV-V (the Doo-Wop)
I · vi · IV · V
The 1950s ballad backbone.
I-IV-I-V
I · IV · I · V
Classic 4-bar phrase with a leading-tone pull on bar 4.
I-♭VII-IV (Mixolydian Rock)
I · ♭VII · IV
Mixolydian flavor; classic rock pull.
12-Bar Blues
I · I · I · I · IV · IV · I · I · V · IV · I · V
The defining blues form. 4 bars I, 2 bars IV, 2 bars I, 1 bar V, 1 bar IV, 1 bar I, 1 bar V (turnaround).
8-Bar Blues
I · V · IV · IV · I · V · I · V
Compressed blues form.
FAQ
Questions about the key of E major
- What chords are in the key of E major?
- The key of E major contains seven diatonic chords: E (I), F#m (ii), G#m (iii), A (IV), B (V), C#m (vi), D#dim (vii°). Most songs in E major lean on E, A and B — the tonic, subdominant and dominant.
- What is the relative minor of E major?
- C# minor is the relative minor of E major. Both keys share the same key signature (4 sharps) and exactly the same seven notes — C# minor simply treats C# as home instead of E, which is why you can borrow chords freely between them.
- What are the easiest chords in E major to play on guitar?
- E and A are the open shapes in E major — no barre required. The rest of the diatonic chords need a barre or a movable grip, so many players capo instead and use familiar open shapes from an easier key.
Learn the theory
Read up on E major
This page is the reference. These are the guides that explain how a key works in the first place — read one and the table above stops needing to be looked up.