Piano chords › E major

E major chord

Symbol: E · Notes: E – G♯ – B

The most common chord: stable and bright, it opens and closes most songs. Three notes: the root, the major third (4 semitones up) and the perfect fifth (7 semitones up).

How it is built

• E: root
• G♯: major third
• B: perfect fifth

Fingering: right hand 1 3 5, left hand 5 3 1 (1 = thumb, 5 = pinky).

Its inversions

• Root position: E – G♯ – B
• 1st inversion: G♯ – B – E
• 2nd inversion: B – E – G♯

In which keys

• I (tonic) in E major
• V (dominant) in A major
• IV (subdominant) in B major
• III in C♯ minor
• VII in F♯ minor
• VI in G♯ minor
• V (dominant) in A harmonic minor

Other E chords

Em · E7 · Emaj7 · Em7 · Esus2 · Esus4 · Edim · E+ · E6 · Em6 · Eadd9 · Edim7 · Em7♭5

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