chords in the key of e

chords in the key of e are I E (0 2 2 1 0 0), ii F#m (2 4 4 2 2 2), iii G#m (4 6 6 4 4 4), IV A (x 0 2 2 2 0), V B (x 2 4 4 4 2), vi C#m (x 4 6 6 5 4) and vii° D#dim (x x 1 2 4 2).

One fingering each

E major charts put string 6, low E, on the left and string 1, high E, on the right. Dot numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky. × is muted, ○ is open, and the letters under the strings are the notes you hear.

E major has 4 barre shapes out of 7: F#m, G#m, B and C#m. D#dim is not a barre and has no open string.

E major, one shape each, low E to high E
Degree	Chord	Quality	Notes	Frets	Barre
I	E	Major	E G# B	0 2 2 1 0 0	no barre
ii	F#m	Minor	F# A C#	2 4 4 2 2 2	barre
iii	G#m	Minor	G# B D#	4 6 6 4 4 4	barre
IV	A	Major	A C# E	x 0 2 2 2 0	no barre
V	B	Major	B D# F#	x 2 4 4 4 2	barre
vi	C#m	Minor	C# E G#	x 4 6 6 5 4	barre
vii°	D#dim	Diminished	D# F# A	x x 1 2 4 2	no barre

I · Major

E

Frets from low E to high E: 0 2 2 1 0 0.

Sounding notes: E2 (1), B2 (5), E3 (1), G#3 (3), B3 (5) and E4 (1).

Sixth string, low E: open, sounds E.
Fifth string, A: finger 2, fret 2, sounds B.
Fourth string, D: finger 3, fret 2, sounds E.
Third string, G: finger 1, fret 1, sounds G#.
Second string, B: open, sounds B.
First string, high E: open, sounds E.

E is not a barre.

Open E in the chord finder

ii · Minor

F#m

Frets from low E to high E: 2 4 4 2 2 2.

Sounding notes: F#2 (1), C#3 (5), F#3 (1), A3 (b3), C#4 (5) and F#4 (1).

Sixth string, low E: finger 1, fret 2, sounds F#.
Fifth string, A: finger 3, fret 4, sounds C#.
Fourth string, D: finger 4, fret 4, sounds F#.
Third string, G: finger 1, fret 2, sounds A.
Second string, B: finger 1, fret 2, sounds C#.
First string, high E: finger 1, fret 2, sounds F#.

F#m is a barre: finger 1 at fret 2.

Open F#m in the chord finder

iii · Minor

G#m

Frets from low E to high E: 4 6 6 4 4 4.

Sounding notes: G#2 (1), D#3 (5), G#3 (1), B3 (b3), D#4 (5) and G#4 (1).

Sixth string, low E: finger 1, fret 4, sounds G#.
Fifth string, A: finger 3, fret 6, sounds D#.
Fourth string, D: finger 4, fret 6, sounds G#.
Third string, G: finger 1, fret 4, sounds B.
Second string, B: finger 1, fret 4, sounds D#.
First string, high E: finger 1, fret 4, sounds G#.

G#m is a barre: finger 1 at fret 4.

Open G#m in the chord finder

IV · Major

A

Frets from low E to high E: x 0 2 2 2 0.

Sounding notes: A2 (1), E3 (5), A3 (1), C#4 (3) and E4 (5).

Sixth string, low E: muted.
Fifth string, A: open, sounds A.
Fourth string, D: finger 1, fret 2, sounds E.
Third string, G: finger 2, fret 2, sounds A.
Second string, B: finger 3, fret 2, sounds C#.
First string, high E: open, sounds E.

A is not a barre.

Open A in the chord finder

V · Major

B

Frets from low E to high E: x 2 4 4 4 2.

Sounding notes: B2 (1), F#3 (5), B3 (1), D#4 (3) and F#4 (5).

Sixth string, low E: muted.
Fifth string, A: finger 1, fret 2, sounds B.
Fourth string, D: finger 2, fret 4, sounds F#.
Third string, G: finger 3, fret 4, sounds B.
Second string, B: finger 4, fret 4, sounds D#.
First string, high E: finger 1, fret 2, sounds F#.

B is a barre: finger 1 at fret 2.

Open B in the chord finder

vi · Minor

C#m

Frets from low E to high E: x 4 6 6 5 4.

Sounding notes: C#3 (1), G#3 (5), C#4 (1), E4 (b3) and G#4 (5).

Sixth string, low E: muted.
Fifth string, A: finger 1, fret 4, sounds C#.
Fourth string, D: finger 3, fret 6, sounds G#.
Third string, G: finger 4, fret 6, sounds C#.
Second string, B: finger 2, fret 5, sounds E.
First string, high E: finger 1, fret 4, sounds G#.

C#m is a barre: finger 1 at fret 4.

Open C#m in the chord finder

vii° · Diminished

D#dim

Frets from low E to high E: x x 1 2 4 2.

Sounding notes: D#3 (1), A3 (b5), D#4 (1) and F#4 (b3).

Sixth string, low E: muted.
Fifth string, A: muted.
Fourth string, D: finger 1, fret 1, sounds D#.
Third string, G: finger 2, fret 2, sounds A.
Second string, B: finger 4, fret 4, sounds D#.
First string, high E: finger 3, fret 2, sounds F#.

D#dim is not a barre.

Open D#dim in the chord finder

Scale notes

E major scale notes: E, F#, G#, A, B, C# and D#.

Half steps in E major: G# to A, and D# to E. Every other step is a whole step.

Open strings outside E major: D and G. The other open strings (low E, A and B) are in the scale.

The E major scale diagram marks only scale notes, so every open string named above as outside E major is left unmarked.

Open strings through fret 4. Gold dots are notes of E major.

Common progressions

I-V-vi-IV in E major is E, B, C#m and A.

I-vi-IV-V in E major is E, C#m, A and B.

Numerals	Chords	Play
I-V-vi-IV	E, B, C#m and A	Hear it
I-vi-IV-V	E, C#m, A and B	Hear it

On piano

The I chord on piano is E3, G#3 and B3, MIDI 52, 56 and 59. The same pitch classes are E.

One octave from C. Gold keys are the E pitch classes, not a specific octave.

How this key sits on guitar

The E chart plays the sixth string, the second string and the first string open.

The D#dim chart mutes the sixth string and the fifth string, frets the other four, uses no open string, and is not a barre.

E minor is not this set

E minor is a different set: Em, F#dim, G, Am, Bm, C and D. Those chords are not the E major chords on this page. People searching chords in e minor key want that set. E minor is the relative minor of G major, and the same seven chords are charted on chords in the key of g.

Questions

Are chords in e minor key the same as chords in e major key?

No. Chords in e major key, and chords in the key of e guitar, are the charts on this page. Chords in e minor key are the other set in the section above, and that section says they are not the E major chords.