Chords in the Key of E Major

The key of E major has 7 chords: E, F♯m, G♯m, A, B, C♯m and D♯°. Play them, see them with 7ths and numbers, and try common progressions.

E major: 4 sharps (F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯)

Scale: E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯ · Relative minor: C♯ minor

The 7 chords in the key of E major. Press a chord to hear it.
Roman	Nashville	Function
I	1	tonic
ii	2m	predominant
iii	3m	tonic or dominant
IV	4	predominant
V	5	dominant
vi	6m	tonic
vii°	7°	dominant

Common progressions in E major

I–IV–V–IE A B E
I–V–vi–IVE B C♯m A
vi–IV–I–VC♯m A E B
I–vi–IV–VE C♯m A B
ii–V–IF♯m7 B7 Emaj7
I–IV–vi–VE A C♯m B
I–iii–IV–ivE G♯m A Am
I–♭VII–IV–IE D A E
12-bar bluesE7 E7 E7 E7 A7 A7 E7 E7 B7 A7 E7 B7
I–vi–ii–VE C♯m F♯m B
I–IV–I–VE A E B
IV–V–iii–viA B G♯m C♯m

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Guitar chords in E major

E I · 022100
F♯m ii · 244222
G♯m iii · 466444
A IV · x02220
B V · x24442
C♯m vi · x4212x
D♯° vii° · xx12x2

Key signature and scale

E major has 4 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯). The E major scale is E – F♯ – G♯ – A – B – C♯ – D♯.

Its relative minor is C♯ minor: same signature, same chords, a different home chord. Next to it on the circle of fifths are B major (one more sharp or one less flat) and A major (one more flat or one less sharp); songs often move to these keys.

Progressions in E major

Progression	In E major
I–IV–V–I	E A B E
I–V–vi–IV	E B C♯m A
vi–IV–I–V	C♯m A E B
I–vi–IV–V	E C♯m A B

Press Play in the tool above to hear them, or Transpose to move a progression to another key. Need these chords in another key? Use the transposition chart.

Chords in other keys

Frequently asked questions

What chords are in the key of E major?

The seven chords are E, F♯m, G♯m, A, B, C♯m and D♯° (I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii°).

How many sharps or flats does E major have?

E major has 4 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯. Its scale is E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯.

What is the relative minor of E major?

C♯ minor. The two keys share the same key signature and the same seven chords; they differ in which chord feels like home.

Which chords in E major are hard on guitar, and can a capo help?

Played without a capo the main chords are E, A, B, C♯m. With a capo on fret 4 you can play C shapes instead: C, F, G, Am, and it still sounds in E major.

What is the V chord in E major?

B (or B7 as a 7th chord). It pulls strongly back to E.

Last updated: October 12, 2026