Chord Colors

E major chord

Inversions

2fr 4fr 7fr

(root position)

Notes and intervals

1 E Root
2 G sharp Major 3rd
3 B Perfect 5th

Keys that use E major

E major is diatonic to these keys, where it acts as the chord shown.

IE Major IE Lydian IE Mixolydian IIE flat Phrygian IID Lydian IIE flat Locrian IIID flat Dorian IIID flat Phrygian IIID flat Natural Minor IVB Major IVB Dorian IVB Mixolydian

About the E major chord

The E major chord is a E major built from E, G sharp, B. You will most often meet it as the I chord in E Major. Tap the keys or frets above to hear each note, or press Play chord to hear them together.

Other E chords

Simpler triads

E minor E diminished E augmented

Suspended

E suspended two E suspended four E seven suspended four

Sixths and sevenths

E six E minor six E seven E major seven E minor seven E minor seven flat five E diminished seven E minor major seven

Extensions

E nine E add nine E major nine E minor nine E eleven E thirteen E six over nine E minor add nine

Altered

E seven sharp five

Functional relationships

These chords are where this one most naturally comes from and resolves to inside a key.

Relative minor C sharp minor

The relative minor uses the same notes and key signature, so it works as a calmer, darker home base.

Parallel minor E minor

The parallel minor keeps the same root note but lowers the third, giving the same key a darker, sadder sound.

Dominant B

The dominant is a fifth above the root, and it builds tension that pulls strongly back to this chord.

Subdominant A

The subdominant is a fourth above the root (a fifth below), and it usually leads on to the dominant or back home.

Tritone substitution F seven

The tritone substitution stands in for this chord's dominant with a dominant seventh a half step above the root, which slides down by a half step to resolve here.

What do the colors mean?

Every note has its own fixed color, laid out around the circle of fifths. Once you know the colors, chords and scales turn into patterns you can recognize at a glance.

There is so much more to explore

Play any chord or scale, transpose it, and watch it move around the color wheel in the free Chord Colors app.

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