E Major
Open PositionThe classic open E chord — one of the most resonant sounds on guitar. All six strings ring freely. Place each finger on its tip so nothing accidentally mutes the open low E, B, or high e strings.
E Power Chord
Open PositionThe open E5 power chord — root, fifth, and octave across the three lowest strings. Straightforward and powerful. Standard in rock and metal. Lightly palm-mute the upper strings to keep things tight.
E Major
7th FretA-shape barre chord rooted on E at the 7th fret of the A string. Five strings, full and warm. A great movable alternative to the open shape and the same fingering pattern as the A-shape barre family.
E Major
9th Fret (Top)Compact triad voiced on the top three strings around the 9th fret. Clean and cutting — works well in lead rhythm, triadic playing, and as a bright chord layer over a full band.
E Major
12th FretThe open E-shape moved up one full octave to the 12th fret. Same fingering as the open chord, now as a full 6-string barre. Bright and cutting — great for upper-register rhythm fills.
Tips for Playing the E Chord
Index on G, not A
The standard open E fingering is: index (1) on G string fret 1, middle (2) on A string fret 2, ring (3) on D string fret 2. Keeping the index on G leaves the low E, B, and high e strings completely free to ring.
Arch every finger
Even though the open E shape only uses three fingers, each one must arch so its tip lands cleanly. The most common mistake is the middle or ring finger accidentally grazing the open B string below it.
All six strings ring
The open E chord is one of the few chords where you strum all six strings. Let them all ring fully — the low E and A strings add deep bass resonance that makes this chord sound especially powerful.
E major → E minor in one move
Lifting the index finger off the G string instantly turns E major into E minor (Em). Practicing this quick switch builds a natural feel for both chords and is useful in countless songs.
Power chord for rock playing
The E5 power chord uses the same two fretted notes (A fret 2 and D fret 2) with the open low E as the root. It's a staple of rock and metal — add distortion and mute the upper strings for a tight sound.
Common progressions
E → A → B is a foundational rock and blues sequence. E → A → B → C#m works in pop and country. E also resolves naturally to A7 and B7, and pairs well with D and G in open-position rock songs.
About the E Chord on Guitar
The E major chord is built from three notes: E, G#, and B. It is one of the most important and resonant chords in all of Western music — in the open position, all six strings ring freely, giving it a uniquely full and powerful sound. E major forms the backbone of countless rock, blues, country, and pop songs, from simple three-chord progressions to intricate fingerstyle arrangements. This page covers five essential voicings: the open position, an open-string power chord, an A-shape barre at the 7th fret, a compact high-string triad, and the same E-shape moved up an octave to the 12th fret. Every diagram is interactive with real acoustic guitar sound.
- 015 E major chord shapes from beginner to advanced
- 02Interactive diagrams — click Play to hear each chord
- 03Real acoustic guitar sound via audio engine
- 04Open position, power chord, A-shape barre, and high voicings
- 05Difficulty rating on every shape
- 06Free — no sign-up or download needed
Anatomy
Chord Tones
The 3 notes that form the E Major chord and their role in the major scale.
Every major chord follows this same formula — root, major third, perfect fifth.