Welcome to the definitive guide on the E5 guitar chord, a cornerstone for anyone venturing into the powerful world of rock, punk, and heavy metal music. Often referred to as a power chord, the E5 is celebrated for its raw energy and simplicity, making it a favorite among guitarists of all levels. This chord, stripped down to its essential elements, consists of just two notes: the Root (E) and the Fifth (B).
If you’re intrigued by the broader family of power chords and their significance in music, our comprehensive tutorial on power chords is an excellent resource to deepen your understanding.
Understanding the E5 Power Chord: Intervals and Construction
The E5 chord’s robust sound comes from its unique structure, built upon fundamental musical intervals. Specifically, it utilizes the 1st (Root) and 5th (Perfect Fifth) intervals of the E major scale. For those new to music theory or looking to solidify their knowledge of intervals and chord construction, we recommend exploring our detailed guides on guitar music theory and fretboard intervals. These resources will illuminate how intervals form the backbone of chords and harmony.
In this guide, we’ll not only provide you with clear and easy-to-follow chord diagrams and fretboard patterns for playing the E5 chord but also delve into the specific notes that constitute this chord. Understanding the ‘why’ behind the sound is just as crucial as knowing ‘how’ to play it. Furthermore, if you’re interested in the systematic way chords are named and categorized based on their interval composition, our tutorial on chord notation will be invaluable.
Whether you are just beginning your guitar journey or are an experienced player aiming to refine your chord vocabulary, mastering the E5 power chord is an indispensable step. So, let’s plug in and get started!
Decoding the E5 Chord: Notes and Intervals
The E5 power chord is defined by these notes:
- E (Root)
- B (Perfect Fifth)
Power chords, including E5, omit the third interval, which is what distinguishes major and minor chords. This absence gives power chords their ambiguous tonality and immense power, perfectly suited for genres that thrive on energy and drive.
To visually understand how power chords are constructed, consider the intervals relative to the root:
| Interval | Note |
|---|---|
| 1 (Root) | E |
| 5 (Perfect Fifth) | B |
This simple yet powerful combination creates the essence of the E5 chord.
E5 Chord Positions and How to Play Them
Below, you’ll find a variety of positions to play the E5 chord across the guitar fretboard. Chord diagrams are ordered from easier to more challenging positions. If you need a refresher on reading chord diagrams, our guide on how to read chord diagrams is available. For players struggling with barre chords, our Bar Chords Tips tutorial offers helpful techniques and exercises.
For a text-based representation of these chords, you can also visit our accessible chords page which provides written instructions.
Position 1: Open Position
E5 chord position 1 open diagram
Position 2: Movable Shape
E5 chord position 2 movable diagram
Position 3: Movable Shape on A String
E5 chord position 3 movable diagram
Position 4: Open Position Variation
E5 chord position 4 open variation diagram
Position 5: Movable Shape Higher Up the Neck
E5 chord position 5 movable diagram higher neck
Position 6: Movable Shape on D String
E5 chord position 6 movable diagram D string
Position 7: Movable Shape with Open E String
E5 chord position 7 movable open E string diagram
Position 8: Open Position with Root on A String
E5 chord position 8 open root on A string diagram
Position 9: Open Position Using Open Strings
E5 chord position 9 open using open strings diagram
Position 10: Barre Chord Shape – Movable
E5 chord position 10 barre movable diagram
Position 11: Barre Chord – Open Voicing
E5 chord position 11 barre open voicing diagram
Position 12: Open Position with Bass Note on E String
E5 chord position 12 open bass note on E string diagram
Position 13: Barre Chord Shape – Movable Higher Position
E5 chord position 13 barre movable higher position diagram
Position 14: Barre Chord – Open and Full Sound
E5 chord position 14 barre open full sound diagram
Explore our extensive all guitar chords library for even more chord variations. For a handy reference off-screen, download our Free Guitar Chords Chart Pdf.
Playing E5 with Different Root Notes
Power chords are versatile and can be easily transposed to different root notes. Here are other power chords you can explore:
C 5 | D 5 | E 5 | F 5 | G 5 | A 5 | B 5 | C#5 | D#5 | F#5 | G#5 | A#5 | Ab5 | Bb5 | Db5 | Eb5 | Gb5
Fretboard Map for E5 Chord Tones
Utilize this fretboard map to discover E and B notes across the neck and create your own E5 chord voicings:
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
E|-------------------------------------------------
B|-------------------------------------------------
G|-------------------------------------------------
D|---------------------5---------------------------
A|---------5---------------------------------------
E|---0---------------------------------------------
1 5
E|-------------------------------------------------
B|---------------------5---------------------------
G|---------5---------------------------------------
D|-------------------------------------------------
A|---0---------------------------------------------
E|-------------------------------------------------
5 1
E|-------------------------------------------------
B|---------5---------------------------------------
G|---0---------------------------------------------
D|-------------------------------------------------
A|-------------------------------------------------
E|-------------------------------------------------
1 5
E|---------5---------------------------------------
B|---0---------------------------------------------
G|-------------------------------------------------
D|-------------------------------------------------
A|-------------------------------------------------
E|-------------------------------------------------
5 1
E|---0---------------------------------------------
B|-------------------------------------------------
G|-------------------------------------------------
D|-------------------------------------------------
A|-------------------------------------------------
E|-------------------------------------------------
1 5
