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E Major Chord Guitar

The fullest open chord on the guitar, ringing across all six strings.

Rings across all six strings, with the low E root anchoring the whole chord.
Its power and sustain make it a staple of rock and blues rhythm playing.
Shares its shape with the E-string barre chords used further up the neck.
A foundational reference point once you start learning movable shapes.

Root3rd5th

Root

EBass6th string

FretOpen

Finger—

5th

A5th string

Fret2

Finger2 middle

Root

D4th string

Fret2

Finger3 ring

3rd

G3rd string

Fret1

Finger1 index

5th

B2nd string

FretOpen

Finger—

Root

e1st string

FretOpen

Finger—

NotesE – B – G#

Formula1 – 3 – 5

Voicing022100

TonesE×3·G#×1·B×2

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Questions about E Major

What notes are in a E Major chord?

A E Major chord contains the notes E, B, G#. It is built from the major formula 1 - 3 - 5, with E as the root.

How does E major relate to barre chords?

The E major shape is the template for every E-string root barre chord. Move the same finger pattern up the neck and add an index-finger barre behind it, and you can play any major chord — which is why E major is worth learning cleanly early on.

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E Major Chord Guitar

This chord sounds even better than it looks.

Questions about E Major

What notes are in a E Major chord?

How does E major relate to barre chords?

Related chords

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