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E Guitar Chord

E guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

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Shape 1/3
Chord shapes:(3 positions)
EGuitar fingering diagram for E1234231STRING6ªE5ªB4ªE3ªG#2ªB1ªE
View HD sheet

What sets E apart

E is built from E, G# and B. E is the root, G# the major third and B the fifth. Said aloud, its notes are E, G sharp and B.

From the low string to the high one you hear E, B, E, G#, B and E. E rings three times across the six strings, and it is the root. The lowest and highest notes are both E, two octaves apart, on strings 6 and 1.

E lets three strings ring open. String 6 gives E, string 2 gives B and string 1 gives E. Everything fits between frets 1 and 2. Besides the main one there are two more shapes, at frets 7 and 12.

Em is one change away. String 3 is left open, bringing in G, the minor third of Em. It shares two notes with C#m, E and G#. The change that keeps the most fingers still is to E7. Two stay in place.

You will find E in seven different keys. In E major it is the I, in A major the V and in B major the IV. The rest appear in the key list. Further down there is a song that uses it.

Chord Progressions

Harmonic circles featuring the E chord:

01E E - C#m - F#m - B702G#m G#m - E - C#m - D#7
Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (E)

Formula: Major Triad (1 - 3 - 5)
Constituent chord intervals:

E 1G# 3B 5

Root Bass (Fundamental String)6th String (Low E) • Fret 0 (E)

String Control (Muted & Active)6 / 6 • Active and muted strings status indicator

3 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for E:

01

Standard

Standard Position
6 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
○Open
EDegree 1
5th String (A)
Fret 2Finger 2
BDegree 5
4th String (D)
Fret 2Finger 3
EDegree 1
3rd String (G)
Fret 1Finger 1
G#Degree 3
2nd String (B)
○Open
BDegree 5
1st String (High E)
○Open
EDegree 1

Placement tip: Press: 5th String (A) at fret 2 with your Middle finger, 4th String (D) at fret 2 with your Ring finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 1 with your Index finger. Play open: 6th String (Low E), 2nd String (B), 1st String (High E).

02

Barre 7

Barre fret 7
5 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
5th String (A)
Fret 7Barre
EDegree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 9
BDegree 5
3rd String (G)
Fret 9
EDegree 1
2nd String (B)
Fret 9
G#Degree 3
1st String (High E)
Fret 7Barre
BDegree 5

Placement tip: Barre fret 7. Press: 4th String (D) at fret 9, 3rd String (G) at fret 9, 2nd String (B) at fret 9. Don't play: 6th String (Low E).

03

Octave

Barre fret 12
6 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
Fret 12Barre
EDegree 1
5th String (A)
Fret 14
BDegree 5
4th String (D)
Fret 14
EDegree 1
3rd String (G)
Fret 13
G#Degree 3
2nd String (B)
Fret 12Barre
BDegree 5
1st String (High E)
Fret 12Barre
EDegree 1

Placement tip: Barre fret 12. Press: 5th String (A) at fret 14, 4th String (D) at fret 14, 3rd String (G) at fret 13.

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (E)

Standard Position
Key Principle:

Natural, perpendicular posture. Fingers 2 and 3 must press directly on the fingertips.

Thumb Placement: Relaxed at mid-height behind fret 1.

Most Common Beginner Mistake:

Letting the fleshy underside of finger 1 graze the open B string, or allowing finger 3 to collapse backward into the 3rd string.

Immediate Solution: Arpeggiate slowly across all 6 strings. If string 2 is muffled, push your wrist gently forward to round out the index finger arch.

The shape in numbers

ItemIn this chord
Frets1 to 2
Fretting fingers3
Open6th, 2nd, and 1st
Mutednone

What to check

The open 6th and 2nd strings sit next to a fretting finger.

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from E

Listen: E → E7 · B7 · Bm

  1. E
  2. E7
  3. E
  4. B7
  5. E
  6. Bm
E → E701
Pivot / Anchor Finger:2 fingers stay
Stay in place
  • finger 2: string 5, fret 2
  • finger 1: string 3, fret 1
E → B702
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 finger stays
Stay in place
  • finger 2: string 5, fret 2
Move
  • finger 1: string 4, fret 1
  • finger 3: string 3, fret 2
  • finger 4: string 1, fret 2
E → Bm03
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 shared position
Stay in place
  • string 5, fret 2
Move
  • string 4, fret 4
  • string 3, fret 4
  • string 2, fret 3
  • string 1, fret 2

E in every key

E sits in the scale of 7 keys.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty
1/5
Highest fret
2
Frets the hand covers
2
Barre
No
Strings that ring
6/6
Fretting fingers
3

E on other instruments

PianoThe same notes on the keyboard.UkuleleE on four strings, with sound.BassE as a low-register arpeggio.All togetherHear guitar, piano, bass and violin together.
Songs with this chord

Famous songs featuring this chord (E)

Well-known songs where this chord plays a clear role

01"Hey Joe"The Jimi Hendrix Experience • 1966The last chord of the song's cycle of fifths (C - G - D - A - E).
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the chord (E)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the E chord?

To play the E chord on guitar, all 6 strings are played from the 6th string (Low E) to the 1st string (High E). Arch your finger joints perpendicular to the fretboard so adjacent strings ring clearly.

What is the root bass note of the E chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the E chord is its root note: E. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 6 at fret 0.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the E chord and what is its formula?

The E chord is constructed using the 1 - 3 - 5 formula (Major Triad). Its constituent pitches are E, G#, B.

How do you prevent the E chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the E chord from buzzing or sounding muted, press the strings using the tips of your fingers at a strict 90-degree hammer angle. Position each finger immediately behind the fret wire with your thumb centered behind the neck.

What famous songs use the E chord?

"Hey Joe" (The Jimi Hendrix Experience, 1966). The last chord of the song's cycle of fifths (C - G - D - A - E).

Study sheet · High resolution

Official E chord diagram

E guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4
Download HD sheetView circle (E)→

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Other chords in the E family:

Chord Eb Chord Em Chord Ebm Chord E7 Chord Eb7 Chord Emaj7 Chord Ebmaj7 Chord Em7