Scales › E major

E major scale on piano

Notes: E – F♯ – G♯ – A – B – C♯ – D♯

The reference scale of Western music: seven notes, with half steps between degrees 3 and 4, then 7 and 8. Bright and stable, it gives the major keys their names.

How it is built

Steps between the notes (W = whole step, H = half step): W – W – H – W – W – W – H.

Key signature: 4 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯).

Relative key: C♯ minor.

Fingering

Right hand, going up: 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5. Left hand, going up: 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1.

The chords of the scale

• I: E
• II: F♯m
• III: G♯m
• IV: A
• V: B
• VI: C♯m
• VII: D♯dim

Other E scales

E minor · E harmonic minor · E major pentatonic · E minor pentatonic · E blues