What Are The Chords In The Key Of E Major?

In this lesson we take a look at basic chords in the key of E major.

Let’s start with the E major scale. The notes of this scale are E F# G# A B C# D#. Each of these notes is the root note for the chords in E. Also, the notes of all of the chords are limited to these seven notes. The chord in the any major key follows the pattern Major Minor Minor Major Major Minor Diminished.

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So for E major, the triad chords are E major, F# minor, G# minor, A major, B major, C# minor and D# diminished.

The four note chords are E major seventh, F# minor seventh, G# minor seventh, A major seventh, B dominant seventh, C# minor seventh, and D# minor seventh flat five.

Roman numerals indicate each chord’s position in the scale. Roman numerals for major chords are capitalized while minor and diminished chords are lower case.

  • I – E major, E major seventh (Emaj, Emaj7)
  • ii – F sharp minor, F# minor seventh (F#m, F#m7)
  • iii – G sharp minor, G# minor seventh (G#m, G#m7)
  • IV – A major, A major seventh (A, Amaj 7)
  • V – B major, B dominant seventh (B, B7)
  • vi – C sharp minor, C# minor seventh (C#m, C#m7)
  • vii° – D# diminished, D# minor seventh flat five (D#°, D#m7b5)

To learn more about chords by key (what chords are in what key and why), check out my book, Master Piano Chords By Key And Give Yourself A Big Advantage When Playing, Learning Or Writing Songs.

Watch this lesson:

Piano Chords In The Key Of E Major

Here’s a key chord chart showing the triads and four note extended chords in the key of E major.

So what notes do these chords consist of? Let’s continue.

  • Chord I, E major consists of the notes, E – G# – B, while E major seventh consists of the notes, E – G# – B – D#.
  • Chord ii, F# minor consists of the notes, F# – A – C#. F# minor seventh consists of the notes, F# – A – C# – E.
  • Chord iii, G# minor contains the notes, G# – B – D#. G# minor seventh contains the notes, G# – B – D# – F#.
  • Chord IV, A major contains the notes, A – C# – E. A major seventh contains the notes, A – C# – E – G#.
  • Chord V, B major contains the notes, B – D# – F#. B dominant seventh contains the notes, B – D# – F# – A.
  • Chord vi, C# minor consists of the notes, C# – E – G#. C# minor seventh consists of the note, C# – E – G# – B.
  • Chord vii°, D# diminished consists of the notes, D# – F# – A, while D# minor seventh flat five consists of the notes, D# – F# – A – C#.

Common chord progressions in the key of E major are as follows:

  • I – IV – V (E – A – B)
  • I – vi – IV – V (E – C#m – A – B)
  • ii – V – I (F#m7 – B7 – Emaj7)

The following is a diagram of the E major key signature as well as the notes of the E major scale on the treble and bass clefs. The E major scale has 4 sharps, F#, G#, C# and D#. 

Here’s a diagram showing the E major scale on piano.

Go here for other keys and their chords. Minor and major keys.

Piano Chords Charts

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