E major scale

E major

  • ER
  • F♯2
  • G♯3
  • A4
  • B5
  • C♯6
  • D♯7

Positions

123456789101112131415EF♯G♯ABC♯D♯EF♯ABC♯D♯EF♯G♯ABD♯EF♯G♯ABC♯D♯EG♯ABC♯D♯EF♯G♯ABC♯D♯EF♯G♯ABC♯EF♯G♯ABC♯D♯EF♯

How it is built

  • Seven notes: whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half. The half steps fall between G♯–A and D♯–E.
  • D♯ is the leading tone. It sits a half step below E and pulls hard toward it, which is why the V chord resolves home.
  • Same notes as C♯ minor. Start on C♯ and the mood flips without changing a single pitch.

Chords in the key of E major

  1. IE
  2. iiF♯m
  3. iiiG♯m
  4. IVA
  5. VB
  6. viC♯m
  7. vii°D♯dim
Build a progression in E major →

Chords that fit E major

Related keys

  • Relative: C♯ minor — same notes, different home
  • Parallel: E minor — same root, different notes

Other E scales