E major chord
E major chord for guitar in different forms: open, which is the standard, plus barre chords with the bass tone on the fifth and sixth strings respectively.
Alternative shapes
E
E barre 1st
E barre 2nd
Relevant chords
E/D#
E/F#
Learn from video
Try in a chord progression
E - G# - C#m - A - E
Chords that sound good together with E major
The primary chords that sound good to combine with E in chord progressions are: F#m, G#m, A, B, C#m.
Follow-up chords
Chords that are likely to follow E major in progressions:
› A
› B
› C#m
› Esus
Finger position (E chord)
Index (1st) finger on 3rd (thinnest) string, 1st fret.
Middle (2nd) finger on 5th (thinnest) string, 2nd fret.
Ring (3rd) finger on 4th (thinnest) string, 2nd fret.
Theory of the E chord
The notes that the E chord consists of are E, G#, B. The main presented version (022100) includes a tripled root, a third and a doubled fifth.
To get E7 add D.
To get Emaj7 add D#.
To get E6 add C#.
Inversions
1st inversion: E/G# (means that G# is the bass note).
2nd inversion: E/B (means that B is the bass note).
Diagrams of these inversions
Assorted slash chords
Versions with alternate bass notes in short notation:
E/F#: 222100
E/G: 322100
E/B: X22100
E/C: X32100
Alternative chord names
E/F# is identical with Eadd9/F#.
E/C# is identical with C#m7.
E/D# is identical with Emaj7/D#.
Omissions
E (no3) is an E major without the third (G#). E(no3) is theoretically identical with E5.
E (no5) is an E major without the fifth (B).
Written in tab format
- 0 -
- 0 -
- 1 -
- 2 -
- 2 -
- 0 -
For pdf, see The Chord Reference ebook with over 800 chord charts.