Chord Colors

E major chord
PianoGuitar
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About the E major chord

E major is used in E Major, where its notes spell the I chord.

Its notes are E, G♯, and B. The intervals are a major third and a perfect fifth.

Also called major triad and maj.

Learn more about the E major chord

Positions

Position 1 of 4

Notes and intervals

1EERoot
2G#G♯Major 3rd
3BBPerfect 5th

Shapes

Chromatic

CC♯D♭DD♯E♭EFF♯G♭GG♯A♭AA♯B♭B

Circle of Fifths

CGDAEBF♯G♭C♯D♭G♯A♭D♯E♭A♯B♭F

Keys that use E major

E major is diatonic to these keys, where its notes spell the chord shown.

IE Major scaleIE Lydian scaleIE Mixolydian scaleIE Harmonic Major scaleIE Phrygian Dominant scaleIE Lydian Dominant scaleIE Aeolian Dominant scaleIE Lydian ♯2 scaleIE Mixolydian ♭2 scaleIIE flat Phrygian scaleIID Lydian scaleIIE flat Locrian scale

Other E chords

Simpler triads

E five chordE minor chordE diminished chordE augmented chord

Suspended

E suspended two chordE suspended four chordE seven suspended four chordE nine suspended four chordE thirteen suspended four chord

Sixths and sevenths

E six chordE minor six chordE minor flat six chordE seven chordE major seven chordE minor seven chordE minor seven flat five chordE diminished seven chordE minor major seven chordE major seven flat five chordE major seven sharp five chordE minor major seven flat five chord

Extensions

E nine chordE add nine chordE major nine chordE minor nine chordE eleven chordE thirteen chordE six nine chordE minor add nine chordE major eleven chordE major thirteen chordE minor eleven chordE minor thirteen chordE minor six nine chordE minor major nine chordE minor major eleven chord

Altered

E seven sharp five chordE seven flat five chordE seven flat nine chordE seven sharp nine chordE nine flat five chordE nine sharp eleven chordE nine sharp five chord

Functional relationships

These chords are where this one most naturally comes from and resolves to inside a key.

Relative minor

C sharp minor chord Learn more about Relative minor

The relative minor uses the same notes and key signature, so it works as a calmer, darker home base.

Parallel minor

E minor chord Learn more about Parallel minor

The parallel minor keeps the same root note but lowers the third, giving the same key a darker, sadder sound.

Dominant

B major chord Learn more about Dominant

The dominant is a fifth above the root, and it builds tension that pulls strongly back to this chord.

Subdominant

A major chord Learn more about Subdominant

The subdominant is a fourth above the root (a fifth below), and it usually leads on to the dominant or back home.

Tritone substitution

F seven chord Learn more about Tritone substitution

The tritone substitution stands in for this chord's dominant with a dominant seventh a half step above the root, which slides down by a half step to resolve here.

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E major chord on guitar shown as colored note dots
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