E Major Scale
E major is the guitar's home key. The open low E string sustains as a natural root drone, lending power and presence. It's the key of choice for hard rock and blues-rock riffs.
Notes in E Major
The E major scale contains seven notes: E — F♯ — G♯ — A — B — C♯ — D♯. All major scales follow the same interval formula — tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, semitone (T T S T T T S) — applied starting on E.
Key Signature
The key signature tells you which notes are permanently sharped or flatted throughout a piece. E major has 4 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯). Its relative minor is C♯ minor — a scale with identical notes but a different tonal centre.
Diatonic Chords
Every major scale generates seven diatonic chords — one built on each scale degree. For E major those are:
In detail: E major, F♯ minor, G♯ minor, A major, B major, C♯ minor, D♯ diminished. The I, IV, and V chords are major (the 'primary' triads); ii, iii, and vi are minor; and the vii chord is diminished.
Famous Songs in E Major
Many iconic recordings were written or recorded in E major:
- "Sweet Child O' Mine" – Guns N' Roses
- "Bohemian Rhapsody" (some sections) – Queen
- "Comfortably Numb" – Pink Floyd
- "All Along the Watchtower" – Jimi Hendrix
How to Practise E Major
Play E major as a two-octave scale starting on the open low E string. Notice how naturally it lies under the fingers — a great key to explore lead guitar ideas.
Use the MusoKit scale explorer to see E major on an interactive piano keyboard and guitar fretboard, play it back with audio, and explore all seven diatonic modes built from its notes.
Modes of E Major
The seven modes of E major each begin on a different scale degree while keeping the same notes. Starting on the first note gives you E Ionian (identical to E major); starting on the sixth gives you C♯ Aeolian (natural minor). Open the scale explorer and select each mode to hear how the tonal character shifts while the notes remain constant.
FAQs
What are the notes in the E major scale?
The E major scale contains: E — F♯ — G♯ — A — B — C♯ — D♯. There are seven notes, following the whole-step/half-step formula W–W–H–W–W–W–H.
What chords are in the key of E major?
The seven diatonic chords of E major are: E major, F♯ minor, G♯ minor, A major, B major, C♯ minor, D♯ diminished. The I, IV, and V chords (E, A, B) are the primary triads and form the backbone of most E major progressions.
What is the relative minor of E major?
The relative minor of E major is C♯ minor. They share the same key signature (4 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯)) but have different tonal centres — E major sounds bright and resolved, while C♯ minor sounds darker and more emotionally ambiguous.
How many sharps or flats does E major have?
E major has 4 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯). Each sharp or flat is applied throughout the entire piece unless cancelled by a natural sign.
What is the E major scale used for?
E major is the guitar's home key. The open low E string sustains as a natural root drone, lending power and presence. It's the key of choice for hard rock and blues-rock riffs. It suits a wide variety of music genres and is an essential scale for any musician to know.