transpose.siteChords in the key of E (E major)
Songs in E use the seven notes of the E major scale: E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯. The key signature has 4 (F♯ G♯ C♯ D♯). The seven chords built on these notes are the ones you will meet most in E.
Diatonic chords in E
| Degree | I | ii | iii | IV | V | vi | vii° |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triad | E | F♯m | G♯m | A | B | C♯m | D♯dim |
| Seventh | Emaj7 | F♯m7 | G♯m7 | Amaj7 | B7 | C♯m7 | D♯m7(♭5) |
| Role | tonic (home) | subdominant side | tonic substitute | subdominant | dominant (tension) | tonic substitute, relative minor | dominant substitute |
I
ii
iii
IV
V
vi
Common progressions in E
- E – B – C♯m – A (I – V – vi – IV, the most common pop progression)
- E – C♯m – A – B (I – vi – IV – V, the '50s progression, ballads)
- C♯m – A – E – B (vi – IV – I – V, the same four chords with a minor feel)
- F♯m – B – E (ii – V – I, the classic jazz and ballad cadence)
- E – A – B (I – IV – V, rock and blues basics)
Playing in E with a capo
E is an easy key you can play with open chords. Other ways:
- Capo on fret 2 + play D shapes (chords in D)
- Capo on fret 4 + play C shapes (chords in C)
- Capo on fret 7 + play A shapes (chords in A)
To move a whole PDF score to an easier key, open it in the free PDF transposer: chords and TAB change together.
Relative minor: C♯ minor
C♯ minor (C♯m) uses the same seven notes as E major. If a song starts and ends on C♯m, it is in C♯ minor.
Chords in C♯ minor: i C♯m · ii° D♯dim · III E · iv F♯m · v G♯m · VI A · VII B (G♯7 is common in place of v)
- C♯m – A – E – B (i – VI – III – VII, minor-key rock and ballads)
- C♯m – F♯m – G♯m – C♯m (i – iv – v – i, minor-key basics (V7 often replaces v))
- C♯m – B – A – B (i – VII – VI – VII, a rock riff progression)