E Piano Chord

E major is the E piano chord. It has three notes: E, G sharp and B. The middle note is a black key, with white keys either side of it.

1E3G♯5BC4C5

E at the bottom, then G♯ and B. Right hand 1-3-5, left hand 5-3-1. The black key is G♯.

How to play E on piano, step by step

  1. Start on the E above middle C. That is the lowest note of the chord.
  2. Thumb (1): E
  3. Middle finger (3): G♯
  4. Little finger (5): B
  5. Press them together with the right hand. The left hand plays the same notes with fingers 5, 3, 1 an octave lower, or just E on its own as a bass note.

E, A and D majors share the same white, black, white layout. If one of them is comfortable, the other two need no new hand shape, only a new starting key.

Inversions of E

The same 3 notes with a different one at the bottom. All of them are E; which you play depends on what the hand is coming from. Tap any card to hear it.

First inversionG♯ B E
E piano chord diagram, first inversion, G♯ B E
Lighter than root position and less final. The third in the bass tips the chord forward, which is why it so often sits between two other chords rather than at the end of a line.
Second inversionB E G♯
E piano chord diagram, second inversion, B E G♯
Open and a little unresolved. A fifth in the bass sounds like the chord is on its way somewhere, which is exactly how it is used: as the step between two chords whose roots are further apart.

If it sounds wrong

The chord sounds sad
The middle note is G sharp, the black key to the right of G. Playing G natural turns it into E minor.
The hand feels twisted
The middle finger has to reach further into the keyboard than the other two. Move the whole hand forward rather than stretching one finger back.
The notes do not sound together
Practise dropping the shape from a couple of inches above the keys. Aiming the hand as one unit is more reliable than placing three fingers in turn.

What makes it an E

E · G♯ · B 1 3 5

E major is the first, third and fifth notes of the E major scale: E, G sharp and B. G sharp is the note that makes it major; without it the chord would be E minor.

It is the I chord of E major, the IV of B and the V of A. In guitar based music it appears constantly, since E is the instrument's home key, so pianists meet it far more often than the four sharps in its key signature would suggest.

E vs Em

The middle note moves one key down, from the black G sharp to the white G. That turns E major into E minor, which is one of the most used minor chords in popular music.

E minor is easier under the hand, being all white keys. Rocking the middle finger between G and G sharp while the outer fingers stay put is a good five second exercise in what major and minor mean.

Questions about E

Which notes are in an E chord on piano?

E, G sharp and B. G sharp is the black key just to the right of G; E and B are white.

What fingers do you use for an E chord?

Right hand: thumb on E, middle finger on G sharp, little finger on B. Left hand: little finger on E, middle on G sharp, thumb on B.

What is the difference between E and Em?

One key. E major uses G sharp, E minor uses G. That black key is the only difference, and it decides whether the chord sounds bright or sad.

Is the E chord hard on piano?

No. It is the same white, black, white shape as A and D major, and nothing in it stretches beyond a fifth.

Where is the E chord used?

As the I chord in E, the IV in B and the V in A. It is everywhere in rock and blues, where E is the guitar's home key.

Chords to learn next

Other E chords