E major piano chord (E)
A major chord is made of the root, the major third and the perfect fifth. It is the backbone of most songs: a clear, stable, bright sound.
On the keyboard
Root position
- Notes
- E – G♯ – B
- Fingering (right hand)
- 1 – 3 – 5
1st inversion
- Notes
- G♯ – B – E
- Fingering (right hand)
- 1 – 2 – 5
2nd inversion
- Notes
- B – E – G♯
- Fingering (right hand)
- 1 – 3 – 5
Chord notes
| Note | Interval |
|---|---|
| E | root |
| G♯ (G sharp) | major third |
| B | perfect fifth |
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 · E – G♯ – B
A progression with this chord
The most common progression in pop music: thousands of songs are built on these four chords.