E Major
Notes:E – G# – B
Fingerings1 – 3 – 5
Formula:R-M3-P5
Intervals:P1-M3-P5
Scale Degrees:1-3-5
Introduction
The E major piano chord is a major triad built on E and consists of three notes: E, G#, and B. It comes from the E Major scale (E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, and D#) and is formed using the 1st, 3rd, and 5th scale degrees. The E Major chord contains four sharps. Like all major chords, it has a bright, stable sound created by the interval structure of a major third (4 semitones) and a perfect fifth (7 semitones) above the root.
Notes
How to Play the E Major
Right Hand (RH)
Place your right hand over the keys and use the fingering: 1 – 3 – 5
Left Hand (LH)
For the left hand, use the fingering: 5 – 3 – 1
E Major Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | E4 – G#4 – B4 |
| 1st Inversion | G#4 – B4 – E5 |
| 2nd Inversion | B4 – E5 – G#5 |
Key Signature
The key of E Major has 4 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯.
F♯C♯G♯D♯
Theory: Intervals
Formula: R-M3-P5
Intervals: P1-M3-P5
The E Major is built by stacking intervals from the root note. The formula R-M3-P5 describes the scale degrees used. The intervals P1-M3-P5 show the distance between each note in the chord.
E Major — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes make up the E Major chord?
E Major contains three notes: E (root), G# (major third), and B (perfect fifth). It has one black key — G# — sitting between the white keys E and B.
What fingering do I use for E Major?
Right hand: finger 1 on E, finger 3 on G#, finger 5 on B. Left hand: finger 5 on E, finger 3 on G#, finger 1 on B. The same arch to the black key applies as with D Major, but here the middle finger goes to G#.
What are the inversions of E Major?
First inversion (E/G#): G#–B–E. Second inversion (E/B): B–E–G#. E/G# in the bass voice creates smooth movement to and from A Major, a very common progression in jazz and pop.
What songs use the E Major chord?
E Major is the tonic in countless rock classics. It appears in Crocodile Rock (Elton John), A Hard Day's Night (Beatles), and as the V chord in A major songs like Let It Be.
What chords pair well with E Major?
In the key of E: A Major (IV), B Major (V), and C# minor (vi). E–A–B is the foundational rock three-chord sequence. E–C#m–A–B is the four-chord pop progression in E.
Why do piano players find E Major slightly awkward at first?
The G# black key between two white keys (E and B) requires the middle finger to reach up while the thumb and pinky stay on white keys. This is the same challenge as D Major with F#, and pianists master it quickly with a few minutes of practice.
Practice Tips
- Locate G# before placing any other finger — it is the second black key in the group of three, a black key between E and B.
- Keep your wrist level: if it drops, your middle finger loses the leverage it needs to press G# cleanly.
- Practice E → A → B → E as a loop — this I–IV–V sequence underpins thousands of rock and pop songs.
- Move between E Major and A Major repeatedly — both share the same fingering pattern (1–3–5) but shifted.
- Try E Major in both hands simultaneously: RH 1–3–5, LH 5–3–1 on the same E–G#–B notes.