Log in Join free

Chords in the key of E major

The notes of E major are E F# G# A B C# D#. Each note makes one chord, so these are the seven chords that belong together. Its relative minor is C# minor, which uses exactly the same chords.

The seven chords in E major

NumberChordFeels likeWhat it does
I E Home The chord the key is named after. Songs usually start and end here, and it feels like coming home.
ii F#m Setup A soft minor chord that leads naturally into V.
iii G#m Soft A gentle minor chord that sounds a lot like I. Used less often.
IV A Lift Moves away from home without much tension. A warm, open sound.
V B Tension Builds tension that wants to fall back to I. The strongest pull in the key.
vi C#m Relative minor The relative minor: the same notes, starting from here. Adds a sad or reflective mood.
vii° D#dim Tense An unstable chord that pulls toward I. Rare in folk, rock and country.

How to play them

E

NUT E A D G B e 2 3 1
NUT E A D G B e 2 3 1

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

F#m

NUT E A D G B e 1 3 4
NUT E A D G B e 1 3 4

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

G#m

4fr E A D G B e 1 3 4
4fr E A D G B e 1 3 4

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

A

NUT E A D G B e × 1 2 3
NUT E A D G B e × 1 2 3

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

B

NUT E A D G B e × 1 3 3 3
NUT E A D G B e × 1 3 3 3

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

C#m

4fr E A D G B e × 1 3 4 2
4fr E A D G B e × 1 3 4 2

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

D#dim

6fr E A D G B e × 1 2 4 3 ×
6fr E A D G B e × 1 2 4 3 ×

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

Tap a chord to see it bigger.

Want to play E higher up the neck? See E in all five CAGED shapes.

Famous progressions in E

Each one is written as numbers first, then as the real chords in E major. Play each chord for one bar (four beats) unless you decide otherwise.

The three-chord song

I IV V

E A B

The backbone of rock, country, folk and blues. Three chords are enough for hundreds of songs, so this is the first progression to learn.

Heard in: Twist and Shout, La Bamba, Wild Thing

The four-chord progression

I V vi IV

E B C#m A

The most famous progression in pop. The same four chords have carried songs across every decade and style.

Heard in: Let It Be, No Woman, No Cry, Wagon Wheel, With or Without You

The four chords, starting from the minor

vi IV I V

C#m A E B

The same four chords as above, started from vi. The song begins on the sad chord, so it feels moodier.

Heard in: Zombie, Despacito

The 50s progression

I vi IV V

E C#m A B

The sound of doo-wop and early rock and roll. Sweet and a little nostalgic.

Heard in: Stand by Me, Earth Angel

The jazz turnaround

ii V I

F#m B E

The building block of jazz: setup, tension, home. Once you can hear it, you will hear it in everything.

Heard in: Autumn Leaves (in its major sections)

Pachelbel's Canon

I V vi iii IV I IV V

E B C#m G#m

A E A B

Eight chords that glide down and back up. It has been borrowed by pop songs for centuries.

Heard in: Canon in D, Basket Case

The 12-bar blues

I7 I7 I7 I7 IV7 IV7 I7 I7 V7 IV7 I7 V7

E7 E7 E7 E7

A7 A7 E7 E7

B7 A7 E7 B7

Twelve bars, three chords, all played as sevenths. Each chord is one bar. The pattern behind most blues and early rock and roll.

Heard in: Rock Around the Clock, Johnny B. Goode, Hound Dog

Seventh chords used above

E7

NUT E A D G B e 2 1
NUT E A D G B e 2 1

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

A7

NUT E A D G B e × 2 3
NUT E A D G B e × 2 3

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

B7

NUT E A D G B e × 2 1 3 4
NUT E A D G B e × 2 1 3 4

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

Songs in E major

Put these chords to work.

Other keys

C G D A E B F# Db Ab Eb Bb F | Am Em Bm F#m C#m G#m D#m Bbm Fm Cm Gm Dm

Want songs in your own songbook with your own notes? Join SongChute, free.