E major chord on piano (E)
E is E, G♯ and B. You'll find E just right of the pair of black keys (a white key). Tap Play, then slow it down.
root position · E–G♯–B · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- E · G♯ · B
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5
How to play E on piano
Count keys (black and white) from E: 4 half steps up to G♯ then 3 half steps up to B. Press the 3 keys together and that's E.
- Right hand: 1 on E, 3 on G♯ and 5 on B.
- Left hand: 5 on E, 3 on G♯ and 1 on B.
- On the keyboard it's white, black and white keys, the same pattern as D and A, so your hand shape carries over.
E inversions
- root position: E–G♯–B. RH 1-3-5.
- 1st inversion: G♯–B–E, with G♯ at the bottom. Right hand 1-2-5.
- 2nd inversion: B–E–G♯, with B at the bottom. Fingers 1-3-5.
Use the inversions to stay put: the next chord is often one inversion away from where your hand already is, as the changes below show.
Moving between E and its neighbours
These are the changes you'll meet most often with E, using the first shape of each chord.
- A (IV in E major): E to A: play A in 2nd inversion (E–A–C♯) and E stays under the same finger, while G♯ moves up to A and B up to C♯. A on piano
- B (V in E major): E to B: play B in 1st inversion (D♯–F♯–B) and B stays under the same finger, while E moves down to D♯ and G♯ down to F♯. B on piano
- C♯m (vi in E major): E to C♯m: play C♯m in 1st inversion (E–G♯–C♯) and E and G♯ stay under the same fingers, while B moves up to C♯. C♯m on piano
E has the stable, upbeat sound of every major triad. Major chords are the backbone of most songs; E is home in E major and a common IV or V in the keys around it. On piano you hear it best with the keys pressed together, then rolled.
Getting E under your fingers
Play E broken, one key at a time: E, G♯, B, G♯, E. Then press the keys together and check that all 3 sound at the same volume. Next, walk up through E–G♯–B → G♯–B–E → B–E–G♯ without lifting your eyes to your hand.
The keys of E
E is a major chord, 1–3–5 from E. Root position, from the bottom: how E is built.
| Note | Key | Fingers | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| E | white key | RH 1 · LH 5 | root |
| G♯ | black key | RH 3 · LH 3 | major third |
| B | white key | RH 5 · LH 1 | perfect fifth |
Where E shows up
In E major, I–V–vi–IV on piano is E (E–G♯–B), B (B–D♯–F♯), C♯m (C♯–E–G♯) and A (A–C♯–E). About the pop progression.
In E major, I–IV–V on piano is E (E–G♯–B), A (A–C♯–E) and B (B–D♯–F♯). About the three-chord progression.
In E major, I–vi–IV–V on piano is E (E–G♯–B), C♯m (C♯–E–G♯), A (A–C♯–E) and B (B–D♯–F♯). About the 50s progression.
E on guitar and ukulele
The same notes on another instrument: E on guitar and E on ukulele. This page puts all three side by side.
Close to E
Other major chords
E on piano: questions
What notes are in E on piano?
E, G♯ and B: E (white key), G♯ (black key) and B (white key). Right hand 1-3-5, left hand 5-3-1.
How do you play E on piano?
Press E, G♯ and B together (1 black, 2 white). Right hand: 1 on E, 3 on G♯ and 5 on B.
What are the inversions of E?
1st inversion (G♯–B–E) and 2nd inversion (B–E–G♯), after root position (E–G♯–B). Only the lowest note changes.
What does E look like on the keyboard?
white, black and white keys, the same pattern as D and A, so one hand shape covers all of them.
Shapes and sound are generated from the notes E, G♯ and B and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.