E Major
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The E major chord is a triad formed from a root (E), a major third (G♯) and a perfect fifth (B).
How to play E major on the piano
To play the E major chord, start by finding the root of the chord: E. Look for the black keys in groups of two on the keyboard. The white key directly to the right of these black keys is E.
E major is made up of the notes E, G♯ and B. Using your right hand, you'd play the chord in its root position with the following fingers:
B - Fifth finger (5)
G♯ - Third finger (3)
E - First finger (1)
Read: Our guide to major and minor chords.
Use the following fingers to play the root position chord with your left hand:
B - First finger (1)
G♯ - Third finger (3)
E - Fifth finger (5)
Depending on the music you're playing, you might find it easier to use other fingers to play E major. To see how the chord is built, check out our video above.
What are the inversions of E major?
Beyond its root position chord, E major has two additional inversions. You can learn how to play these inversions of E major below.
How to play the first inversion of E major
In the first inversion of E major, place G♯ as the lowest note of the chord. With your right hand, you'd play this chord using the following fingers:
E - Fifth finger (5)
B - Second finger (2)
G♯ - First finger (1)
Read: Our guide to chord inversions.
How to play the second inversion of E major
The second inversion of E major has B as its lowest note. Use the following fingers to play the chord with your right hand:
G♯ - Fifth finger (5)
E - Third finger (3)
B - First finger (1)
