Understanding the chords in a major key is fundamental to guitar playing, and the key of E major is a popular and versatile choice for many guitarists. Just like any major key, the key of E has seven distinct chords, each derived from the notes of the E major scale. This guide will break down each chord in the key of E, providing chord charts, common chord progressions, and the music theory behind why these chords work together harmoniously.
The Essential Chords in the Key of E Major
The key of E major, derived from the E major scale, contains seven chords. Each chord is built upon a different degree of the scale, following a consistent pattern of major and minor chords that is universal to all major keys.
| Degree | I | ii | iii | IV | V | vi | vii |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chord | E Major | F# Minor | G# Minor | A Major | B Major | C# Minor | D# Diminished |
| Chart |
Understanding the Major-Minor Pattern: A useful mnemonic for remembering the chord types in any major key is the major-minor pattern: Major, minor, minor, Major, Major, minor, diminished. This pattern always holds true for major keys.
Popular Chord Progressions in E Major
Knowing the chords in the key of E is only the beginning. Combining these chords into progressions is how you create music! Here are some common and effective chord progressions in E major that you can use to write songs or practice your guitar playing:
| Progression | Chords |
|---|---|
| I-IV-V | E-A-B |
| I-IV-I-V | E-A-E-B |
| I-V-vi-IV | E-B-C#m-A |
| I-ii-IV-V | E-F#m-A-B |
| I-vi-ii-V | E-C#m-F#m-B |
| I-vi-IV-V | E-C#m-A-B |
These progressions are the backbone of countless popular songs. Experiment with strumming these chord sequences to get a feel for the key of E and how these chords interact.
The Theory Behind the Chords in E Major
To understand why these specific chords are in the key of E, we need to delve into a little music theory. All chords in a major key are derived from the notes of the major scale associated with that key. In this case, we’re using the E major scale.
The E Major Scale:
The E major scale consists of seven notes:
E – F# – G# – A – B – C# – D# – E (octave)
Each of these notes corresponds to a scale degree:
Degree: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 (Octave)
Note: E F# G# A B C# D# E
Building Triads:
Chords are built by stacking intervals of thirds. Specifically, we’ll be focusing on triads, which are three-note chords. We use the 1st, 3rd, and 5th degrees of a scale to construct triads. The quality of the triad (major, minor, or diminished) depends on the specific intervals between these notes.
- Major Triad: Built with scale degrees 1, 3, and 5 of a major scale. Intervals are Major 3rd and Perfect 5th from the root.
- Minor Triad: Built with scale degrees 1, b3, and 5 of a major scale (flattened 3rd). Intervals are Minor 3rd and Perfect 5th from the root.
- Diminished Triad: Built with scale degrees 1, b3, and b5 of a major scale (flattened 3rd and 5th). Intervals are Minor 3rd and Diminished 5th from the root.
Deriving Chords in the Key of E:
Now let’s go through each chord in the key of E and see how its quality (major, minor, diminished) is determined by the notes of the E major scale.
-
E Major (I Chord)
- Scale Degrees (of E Major): 1, 3, 5
- Notes: E, G#, B
- This combination of notes (E, G#, B) forms an E Major triad. Hence, the first chord in the key of E is E Major.
Alt text: E Major chord diagram for guitar, showing finger positions on the fretboard.
-
F# Minor (ii Chord)
- Scale Degrees (of F# Major): 1, 3, 5 (F#, A#, C#)
- However, A# is not in the E major scale. We must flatten the 3rd to A natural to stay within the key of E.
- Adjusted Scale Degrees: 1, b3, 5
- Notes: F#, A, C#
- This combination (F#, A, C#) forms an F# Minor triad. The second chord in the key of E is F# minor.
Alt text: F sharp minor chord diagram for guitar, indicating fret positions for F#m.
-
G# Minor (iii Chord)
- Scale Degrees (of G# Major): 1, 3, 5 (G#, B#, D#)
- B# is not in the E major scale. Flatten the 3rd to B natural.
- Adjusted Scale Degrees: 1, b3, 5
- Notes: G#, B, D#
- This combination (G#, B, D#) creates a G# Minor triad. The third chord in the key of E is G# minor.
Alt text: G sharp minor guitar chord chart, displaying finger placement for G#m.
-
A Major (IV Chord)
- Scale Degrees (of A Major): 1, 3, 5 (A, C#, E)
- All these notes (A, C#, E) are present in the E major scale.
- Notes: A, C#, E
- This forms an A Major triad. The fourth chord in the key of E is A major.
Alt text: A Major guitar chord diagram, showing the standard open A chord shape.
-
B Major (V Chord)
- Scale Degrees (of B Major): 1, 3, 5 (B, D#, F#)
- All these notes (B, D#, F#) are within the E major scale.
- Notes: B, D#, F#
- This combination makes a B Major triad. The fifth chord in the key of E is B major.
Alt text: B Major guitar chord diagram, illustrating a common movable B chord form.
-
C# Minor (vi Chord)
- Scale Degrees (of C# Major): 1, 3, 5 (C#, E#, G#)
- E# is not in the E major scale. Flatten the 3rd to E natural.
- Adjusted Scale Degrees: 1, b3, 5
- Notes: C#, E, G#
- This forms a C# Minor triad. The sixth chord in the key of E is C# minor.
Alt text: C sharp minor guitar chord chart, depicting finger positions for C#m.
-
D# Diminished (vii Chord)
- Scale Degrees (of D# Major): 1, 3, 5 (D#, F##, A#)
- Neither F## nor A# are in the E major scale. We need to flatten both the 3rd and 5th.
- Adjusted Scale Degrees: 1, b3, b5
- Notes: D#, F#, A
- This creates a D# Diminished triad. The seventh chord in the key of E is D# diminished.
Alt text: D sharp diminished guitar chord diagram, showing the finger layout for D#dim.
Conclusion
Understanding the chords in the key of E major is a crucial step for any guitarist. By learning these chords, their relationships, and the underlying music theory, you’ll be able to play a vast range of songs and even start writing your own music in the key of E. Explore chords in other keys to expand your musical knowledge and guitar skills further!
