Chords in the key of E major
The key of E major has four sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯). Its seven chords are E, F♯m, G♯m, A, B, C♯m and D♯dim. Tap any of them, or play them in order.
Tap a numeral to hear one chord; tap a shape to open it.
The chords that do most of the work
E is home. A (IV) is the step away, B (V) is the pull back, and C♯m (vi), the relative minor, is the shadow of home. Those four chords, in some order, carry an enormous share of pop, rock and country songs. F♯m (ii) usually leads to B; G♯m (iii) is used for color; D♯dim is tense and rarely stays long.
Key signature
E major has four sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯), written at the start of every line so you don't have to mark them on each note. Sharp keys add one sharp per step clockwise around the circle of fifths: E major sits between A major and B major.
The notes of the key are the E major scale: E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯. Relative minor: C♯ minor (same notes). Parallel minor: E minor (same starting note).
Progressions in E major
The progression player below starts in E major. Change the key to hear the same pattern anywhere; the numerals stay the same.
In E major, 4 beats per chord. Open in the progression builder
- IE
- VB
- viC♯m
- IVA
| Progression | In E major | |
|---|---|---|
| I–V–vi–IV the pop progression | E – B – C♯m – A | |
| I–IV–V the three-chord progression | E – A – B – E | |
| I–vi–IV–V the 50s progression | E – C♯m – A – B | |
| ii–V–I the jazz cadence | F♯m7 – B7 – Emaj7 – Emaj7 | |
| vi–IV–I–V the minor-feel pop loop | C♯m – A – E – B | |
| I–IV–vi–V the lift | E – A – C♯m – B | |
| I–vi–ii–V the turnaround | E – C♯m – F♯m – B | |
| I–iii–IV–V the stepwise climb | E – G♯m – A – B | |
| I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V the Canon progression | E – B – C♯m – G♯m – A – E – A – B | |
| I7–IV7–V7 (12 bars) the 12-bar blues | E7 – E7 – E7 – E7 – A7 – A7 – E7 – E7 – B7 – A7 – E7 – B7 |
Making E major chords pull harder
Any chord in E major can get its own V7. It isn't in the key, but it points straight at the chord that follows.
- V7 of ii
- V7 of iii
- V7 of IV
- V7 of V
- V7 of vi
Mixing major and minor
Major-key songs often darken for a moment by taking chords from E minor: Am (iv), C (♭VI), D (♭VII) and G (♭III). The minor iv (Am) is the classic bittersweet move before returning to E.
Seventh chords in E major
Stack one more third on each triad for the seventh chords: Emaj7, F♯m7, G♯m7, Amaj7, B7, C♯m7 and D♯m7♭5. B7 is the only dominant seventh, which is why it pulls so strongly to E.
Playing in E major on guitar
E major is one of the open-chord keys: E and A all use open strings, and only F♯m, G♯m, B, C♯m and D♯dim need a barre or a partial barre.
Transpose a chord chart · How a capo works
Other keys
Key of E major: questions
What chords are in the key of E major?
E, F♯m, G♯m, A, B, C♯m and D♯dim. As numerals: I = E, ii = F♯m, iii = G♯m, IV = A, V = B, vi = C♯m, vii° = D♯dim.
How many sharps or flats are in E major?
Four sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯).
What is the relative minor of E major?
C♯ minor. The two keys share all seven notes.
What are the I, IV and V chords in E major?
E (I), A (IV) and B (V). Those three chords are enough for thousands of songs.
How do I play in E major on guitar with a capo?
You don't need one: E major uses open chord shapes directly.
Computed from E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯ and tested. Updated September 2026.