E Major Scale
The E major scale has seven notes: E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯ and D♯. It has 4 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯ and D♯), and it is the relative major of C♯ minor.
Notes
- E1
- F♯2
- G♯3
- A4
- B5
- C♯6
- D♯7
Step pattern: W – W – H – W – W – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step)
| Degree | Note | Interval from E |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | Root |
| 2 | F♯ | Major 2nd |
| 3 | G♯ | Major 3rd |
| 4 | A | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | B | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | C♯ | Major 6th |
| 7 | D♯ | Major 7th |
On the piano
On the guitar
Root Scale tone
Key signature
E major has 4 sharps: F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯. See it on the circle of fifths →
Chords in the key of E major
| Numeral | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| I | E | Emaj7 |
| ii | F♯m | F♯m7 |
| iii | G♯m | G♯m7 |
| IV | A | Amaj7 |
| V | B | B7 |
| vi | C♯m | C♯m7 |
| vii° | D♯dim | D♯m7♭5 |
Common progressions
- Three-chordE – A – BI – IV – V
- Pop ("four chords")E – B – C♯m – AI – V – vi – IV
- Jazz ii–V–IF♯m – B – Eii – V – I
- 50s doo-wopE – C♯m – A – BI – vi – IV – V
Related scales
Practise it
- G major, three notes per stringTechnique · moved down 3 frets into E
- Legato trills (hammer-ons & pull-offs)Technique · moved up 4 frets into E
- ii–V–I lineJazz · moved up 4 frets into E
Explore it on the full fretboard · Piano scale explorer · Metronome