Piano chord · Triads
E major chord on piano
Right hand: E (1), G♯ (3), B (5)
How to play E on piano: the keys to press, which fingers to use, inversions and how it’s written on the staff.
Bright, stable and resolved — the foundation of most songs.
E is the I chord in E major, IV in B major and V in A major. In minor keys: III in C♯ minor, V in A minor, VI in G♯ minor and VII in F♯ minor.
- Notes
- EG♯B
- Formula
- 135
- Built from
- root · major 3rd · perfect 5th
Piano
Root position · numbers are finger numbers
How to play it
Right handE1 · thumbG♯3 · middleB5 · pinky
Left handE5 · pinkythe root, an octave lower
Finger numbers: 1 thumb · 2 index · 3 middle · 4 ring · 5 pinky. Inversions use the same notes with a different one on the bottom — they help you move smoothly between chords. Tap any key to hear it.
Tips for playing E on piano
E, G♯, B — the G♯ in the middle is a black key; play 1-3-5 with your middle finger reaching in.
You’ll find E in common progressions such as E–B–C♯m–A (the pop progression in E major), E–A–B–A (three-chord rock in E major) and E–C♯m–A–B (the ’50s progression in E major).
Learning piano? E is part of stage 5 (“D, A and E major”) of our first piano chords path.
