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
Before playing the E major chord, find the root of the chord: E. If you look at the keyboard, you'll see black keys in groups of two and three. Just to the right of black keys in groups of two, you'll find the key for E.
E major is made up of the notes E, G♯, and B. In its root position, you'd play the chord with the following fingers:
B - Fifth finger (5)
G♯ - Third finger (3)
E - First finger (1)
Read more: 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 playing the root position chord of E major, the chord has two separate inversions. You can learn how to play these inversions of E major below.
How to play the 1st inversion of E major
In the 1st inversion of E major, you'll place the 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 more: Our guide to chord inversions.
How to play the 2nd inversion of E major
The 2nd inversion of E major uses the 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)
