E Major Chord: Guitar, Piano and Notes
The E Major chord is built on the root note E. Its notes are E, G♯ and B.
Major chords feel bright, stable and resolved. A root, a major third and a perfect fifth give them a happy, confident sound. Most popular music is built on them.
E Major on piano
Switch to the interactive diagram to hear the chord, change voicing and swap finger numbers for note names.
To play E Major on piano, place your right-hand thumb on E, middle finger on G♯, and little finger on B. Press the keys together and listen for an even sound. Practice moving in and out of the chord slowly, then bring in a metronome.
E Major on guitar
Switch to the interactive diagram to hear the chord, change voicing and swap finger numbers for note names.
On guitar, E Major is commonly played with the voicing shown above. Strum only the strings marked as active in the diagram.
Play the chord
E Major chord notes
| Degree | Interval | Semitones | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Root | 0 | E |
| 3 | Major third | 4 | G♯(G#) |
| 5 | Perfect fifth | 7 | B |
How to use the E Major chord
The E Major chord is built from a root, a major third and a perfect fifth. Start at the root E and stack the intervals to get the whole chord: E, G♯ and B. The same formula gives you the chord in any other key.
You'll find major chords in almost every style of popular music: rock anthems, country ballads, pop hits and hymns. They commonly appear as the I, IV and V chords in a major key.
Famous Songs in E Major
These well-known tracks all feature the E Major chord - a great way to put it in musical context.
- 1Johnny B. GoodeChuck Berry
- 2Jingle Bell RockBobby Helms
- 3Sharp Dressed ManZZ Top
- 4Pride and JoyStevie Ray Vaughan
- 5Rock Around the ClockBill Haley
Common progressions
The E Major chord works beautifully in these progressions. Click a chord name to jump to its page.
Scales that contain E
These scales include E as one of their diatonic chords. Use them to find melodies and improvisation ideas that fit perfectly.
Related chords to E Major
Once E Major feels comfortable, the chords below open up new progressions. Each one shares notes, keys or a harmonic function with it, which is what makes it the natural place to go next.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the E Major chord?
Is the E Major chord major or minor?
How do you play E Major on piano?
How do you play E Major on guitar?
What chords work well with E Major?
Keep exploring
Deepen your understanding of the E Major chord with our other music theory tools.