E major chord on piano
The E major chord is E–G#–B. Tap the keys below to hear it.
EE · G# · B
Tap the keys to hear them
1 = thumb, 5 = little finger.
E major has a bright, strong major sound. Its four sharps make the key less common for beginners, but the chord itself appears in an outsized share of popular music.
You've heard it in "Copacabana" by Barry Manilow.
How the E major chord is built
Fingerings & inversions
Standard fingerings use the thumb (1), the little finger (5), and either the index (2) or middle finger (3). Hand size and musical context change what feels natural. Switch Fingers on above to see 1-3-5 land for E.
| Position | Notes (bottom → top) | Right hand | Left hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | E – G# – B | 1-3-5 | 5-3-1 |
| 1st inversion | G# – B – E | 1-2-5 | 5-3-1 |
| 2nd inversion | B – E – G# | 1-3-5 | 5-2-1 |
Inversion diagrams
The inversion buttons above play all 3 shapes of E.
Popular songs to play with the E piano chord
- Copacabana by Barry Manilow
- Bella Ciao by Traditional
- All the Things You Are by Frank Sinatra
Songs are where chords start making sense. Skoove takes you from E to full songs, step by step.
Start a piano lesson for freeWhere E shows up
E major is the home chord (I) of E major, a key with four sharps. It also plays the V in A and the IV in B, and its relative minor, C# minor, is built from the same scale. Songs in any of these keys make constant use of E.
Try it inside the two progressions that carry most pop songs: E–A–B and E–B–C#m–A.
Common questions
What notes are in the E major chord?
The E major chord is made up of E, G#, B. G#, the black key between G and A, is the only raised note in the shape; E and B stay white.
What fingers should I use to play E on piano?
In root position, the standard fingering is 1-3-5 in the right hand and 5-3-1 in the left hand (1 = thumb, 5 = little finger). E puts finger 3 on G#, the chord's only black key.
What chords are in the key of E major?
The seven diatonic chords in E major are E major, F# minor, G# minor, A major, B major, C# minor, D# diminished.
What are the notes in the E major scale?
The E major scale is E – F# – G# – A – B – C# – D# – E. The E chord is built from the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes of that scale.
What is the difference between E major and Emaj7?
Emaj7 adds the seventh note of the scale, D#, on top of the E–G#–B triad. The extra note gives the chord a richer, warmer sound.
More E chords
Reviewed by
Composer, arranger and music educator. BA Music (LIPA), MA Composition (University of Salford).
Last updated 2026-08-13