E Major
Open PositionThe classic open E chord — one of the most resonant sounds on guitar. All six strings ring freely. Place each finger on its tip so nothing accidentally mutes the open low E, B, or high e strings.
E Power Chord
Open PositionThe open E5 power chord — root, fifth, and octave across the three lowest strings. Straightforward and powerful. Standard in rock and metal. Lightly palm-mute the upper strings to keep things tight.
E Major
7th FretA-shape barre chord rooted on E at the 7th fret of the A string. Five strings, full and warm. A great movable alternative to the open shape and the same fingering pattern as the A-shape barre family.
E Major
7th FretCompact three-string triad high on the neck — root on the G string at fret 9, the major 3rd beside it on the B string, and the 5th on the high e two frets below. Flatten the ring finger across the G and B strings and take the high e with the index. Bright and cutting for chord stabs and layering over a band.
E Major
12th FretThe open E-shape moved up one full octave to the 12th fret. Same fingering as the open chord, now as a full 6-string barre. Bright and cutting — great for upper-register rhythm fills.
Index on G, not A
The standard open E fingering is: index (1) on G string fret 1, middle (2) on A string fret 2, ring (3) on D string fret 2. Keeping the index on G leaves the low E, B, and high e strings completely free to ring.
Arch every finger
Even though the open E shape only uses three fingers, each one must arch so its tip lands cleanly. The most common mistake is the middle or ring finger accidentally grazing the open B string below it.
All six strings ring
The open E chord is one of the few chords where you strum all six strings. Let them all ring fully — the low E and A strings add deep bass resonance that makes this chord sound especially powerful.
E major → E minor in one move
Lifting the index finger off the G string instantly turns E major into E minor (Em). Practicing this quick switch builds a natural feel for both chords and is useful in countless songs.
Power chord for rock playing
The E5 power chord uses the same two fretted notes (A fret 2 and D fret 2) with the open low E as the root. It's a staple of rock and metal — add distortion and mute the upper strings for a tight sound.
Common progressions
E → A → B is a foundational rock and blues sequence. E → A → B → C#m works in pop and country. E also resolves naturally to A7 and B7, and pairs well with D and G in open-position rock songs.
About the E Chord on Guitar
The E major chord is built from three notes: E, G#, and B. It is one of the most important and resonant chords in all of Western music — in the open position, all six strings ring freely, giving it a uniquely full and powerful sound. E major forms the backbone of countless rock, blues, country, and pop songs, from simple three-chord progressions to intricate fingerstyle arrangements. This page covers five essential voicings: the open position, an open-string power chord, an A-shape barre at the 7th fret, a compact high-string triad, and the same E-shape moved up an octave to the 12th fret. Every diagram is interactive with acoustic guitar sound.
- 015 E major chord shapes from beginner to advanced
- 02Interactive diagrams — click Play to hear each chord
- 03Acoustic guitar sound via audio engine
- 04Open position, power chord, A-shape barre, and high voicings
- 05Difficulty rating on every shape
- 06Free — no sign-up or download needed
ANATOMY
Chord Tones
The 3 notes that form the E Major chord and their role in the major scale.
Every major chord follows this same formula — root, major third, perfect fifth.
Frequently Asked Questions
In the standard open E major chord: index finger (1) on the 1st fret of the G string, middle finger (2) on the 2nd fret of the A string, and ring finger (3) on the 2nd fret of the D string. The low E, B, and high e strings are all played open.
E major consists of three notes: E (the root), G# (the major third), and B (the perfect fifth). In the open position on guitar, the chord sounds E–B–E–G#–B–E from the lowest to the highest string — a rich, full voicing with the root tripled.
All six strings ring freely in the open E chord, including the two lowest open strings (E and A) which provide deep bass resonance. This makes E one of the most powerful-sounding open chords on guitar and a cornerstone of rock, blues, and country music.
The most common E major barre chord is the A-shape barre at the 7th fret: index barres the A and high e strings at fret 7, middle on D string fret 9, ring on G string fret 9, pinky on B string fret 9. Alternatively, the same open E fingering can be played as a full 6-string barre at the 12th fret.
In the key of E major, the most natural chords are A, B, C#m, F#m, and G#m. The progression E → A → B is one of the cornerstones of rock and blues. E also pairs naturally with A7 and B7 as strong dominant resolutions.