How to Play E on Piano

The E Major chord sounds bright and resolved. It stacks 3 notes: E – G# – B.

A root, a major third and a perfect fifth — the chord every other chord is measured against.

Notes in E

NoteIntervalFinger
EE4Root1
G#G#4Major 3rd3
BB4Perfect 5th5

How to Play

Right Hand

Place your thumb (finger 1) on E. Use finger 3 on G# and finger 5 on B.

Where it sits

One note of this chord (G#) is on black keys, so play it a little further back on the keys than an all-white shape.

Press all 3 keys at the same time. Keep your wrist relaxed and your fingers curved. The blue dots on the piano below show exactly which keys to press — they turn green when you play the right note.

Other Major Chords

C
C – E – G
Db
Db – F – Ab
D
D – F# – A
Eb
Eb – G – Bb
F
F – A – C
F#
F# – A# – C#
G
G – B – D
Ab
Ab – C – Eb
A
A – C# – E
Bb
Bb – D – F
B
B – D# – F#

Other E Chords

E6
E – G# – B – C#
E7
E – G# – B – D
E9
E – G# – B – D – F#
Em
E – G – B
Emaj7
E – G# – B – D#
Em7
E – G – B – D
Edim
E – G – Bb
Eaug
E – G# – B#
Esus2
E – F# – B
Esus4
E – A – B
Edim7
E – G – Bb – Db
Em6
E – G – B – C#
Eadd9
E – G# – B – F#