E major chord
E
- ER
- G♯3
- B5
Open
What each note does
- E is the root. It names the chord and is the note your ear hears as home.
- G♯ is the major third. It makes the chord sound bright. Lower it a half step to G and the chord turns minor.
- B is the fifth. It adds weight without changing the character, so it is the first note to drop when a voicing gets crowded.
More voicings
Barre · A shape · 7th fret
Triad · top 3 strings · 4th fret
Triad · middle strings · 9th fret
Progressions that use E
- Open in builder →
I–IV–V–I · A major · Country / folk
ADEA
- Open in builder →
I–♭VII–IV · E major · Classic rock
EDA
- Open in builder →
I–V–vi–IV · A major · Pop
AEF♯mD