E Guitar Chord
E Major · E–G#–B
E is the E major chord: E–G#–B. Its sound is bright and resolved — the foundational happy sound of pop, rock, country, and folk.
You'll meet E constantly because it lives in several common keys: it's the I chord in E major, the IV chord in B major, and the V chord in A major. That makes it a building block of I–IV–V and I–V–vi–IV progressions in those keys.
The easiest way to play E is the open-position shape (0 2 2 1 0 0, low E string to high E string), which uses open strings and stays in the first few frets. Below you'll find 8 ways to play it across the neck, from open position to barre and shell voicings, with the theory behind the chord and the progressions it lives in.
How to Play E: 8 Voicings
Frets are listed from the low E string to the high E string. x = don't play that string, 0 = open string.
E Chord Theory
| Interval | R | 3 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Note | E | G# | B |
E is built from the E major scale.
E Chord FAQ
What notes are in the E chord?
E contains 3 notes: E (R), G# (3), B (5). The interval formula for a major chord is R–3–5.
What is the easiest way to play E on guitar?
Use the open-position shape: 0 2 2 1 0 0 (frets listed from the low E string to the high E string, x = don't play that string). It uses open strings, so it needs the least finger strength.
What is the difference between E and Em?
One note: the 3rd. E major uses the major 3rd (Ab) while E minor flattens it to G. That half-step is the entire difference between the bright major sound and the darker minor sound.
What keys use the E chord?
E appears diatonically in E major (as I), B major (as IV), and A major (as V) — plus Db minor, its relative minor key.
Related Chords
Hear yourself play E
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