Root position E
E – G♯ – B
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-3-1
E Major Chord on Piano
E E G♯ B Formula 1 3 5 3 notes
Notes
What notes are in the E Major chord?
The E Major chord has 3 notes: E, G♯, B. Start on E, go up 4 half steps for the major third, then 3 more for the perfect fifth.
| Note | Interval from the root | Half steps |
|---|---|---|
| E | Root | 0 |
| G♯ | Major 3rd | 4 |
| B | Perfect 5th | 7 |
Inversions and fingering
Every way to play E Major
The same notes in a different order. The lowest note changes the name after the slash; the fingering below is the usual one - right hand from the lowest key up, left hand from the lowest key up too.
1st inversion E/G♯
G♯ – B – E
Right hand 1-2-5Left hand 5-3-1
2nd inversion E/B
B – E – G♯
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-2-1
In real music
Songs that use E Major
Pieces from the GOONS sheet music library where E holds for at least two bars of our arrangement (read from the score, root in the bass).
Where it lives
Keys and scales with E Major
Every key where E is one of the seven chords, with its Roman numeral, and the scales whose notes include all of it - the ones to improvise over it.
In these keys
Scales that contain all its notes
Questions
Frequently asked
What notes are in the E Major chord?
The E Major chord (E) is made of E, G♯, B. Its formula is 1 3 5 - the root, then the intervals of a major chord.
How do you play E on the piano?
Put your right thumb on E and play the other notes with fingers 1-3-5. With the left hand, use fingers 5-3-1 from the lowest key up.
What are the inversions of E?
root position E (E G♯ B); 1st inversion E/G♯ (G♯ B E); 2nd inversion E/B (B E G♯).
Play it for real
Hold E and build a progression on it
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