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Chords in the Key of E major

4 sharps E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯ Relative: C♯ minor

The E major scaleOpen E major in the studio
Diatonic chords

The chords of E major

Built by stacking thirds on each note of the E major scale: lower-case Roman numerals are minor (or diminished, with °), upper-case are major.

Triads

IEE G♯ B
IVAA C♯ E
VBB D♯ F♯

Seventh chords

Imaj7Emaj7E G♯ B D♯
iii7G♯m7G♯ B D♯ F♯
IVmaj7Amaj7A C♯ E G♯
V7B7B D♯ F♯ A
viiø7D♯m7b5D♯ F♯ A C♯

The dominant seventh

V7B7B D♯ F♯ A
Progressions

Common progressions in E major

Chord numbers travel between keys: the same pattern in another key keeps its sound, only the names change.

  • I – IV – V – I E – A – B – E
  • I – V – vi – IV E – B – C♯m – A
  • ii – V – I F♯m – B – E
  • I – vi – IV – V E – C♯m – A – B
Questions

Frequently asked

What chords are in the key of E major?

The seven triads are E (I), F♯m (ii), G♯m (iii), A (IV), B (V), C♯m (vi), D♯dim (vii°).

How many sharps or flats are in E major?

E major has 4 sharps: E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯.

What is the relative minor of E major?

C♯ minor. It uses the same notes and the same key signature, starting from another note.

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