Julie Swihart

Major Key Chords

Let’s look at how to find chords for the key of E major. You can use these chords to create chord progressions and play creatively in the key of E.

How to Find Chords for E Major

To find the chords for E major, we first need to build an E major scale (learn how to build any major scale here).

The notes for the E major scale are:

E – F♯ – G♯ – A – B – C♯ – D♯ – E

Now we’ll build a “1 – 3 – 5” chord off each note of the scale, using only the notes of the scale to build the chords.

So starting on E, we’ll count “1 – 3 – 5”. When we do this, we come up with our first chord: E – G♯ – B

Next we’ll start on F♯, and counting “1 – 3 – 5”, we get: F♯ – A – C♯

Then we’ll start on G♯, and using only the notes of the scale, we’ll build another “1 – 3 – 5” chord. When we do, we get: G♯ – B – D♯

We can continue this pattern, building a “1 – 3 – 5” chord off each note of the scale, using only the notes of the scale to build the chords.

Chords for Major Keys Printable

This 20-page PDF will help you learn the chords for every major key! Use these chords to build chord progressions and play creatively.

Get the Printable

Chords for the Key of E Major

Here are the chords for the key of E major:

E – G♯ – B = E major chord

F♯ – A – C♯ = F♯ minor chord

G♯ – B – D♯ = G♯ minor chord

A – C♯ – E = A major chord

B – D♯ – F♯ = B major chord

C♯ – E – G♯ = C♯ minor chord

D♯ – F♯ – A = D♯ diminished chord

Other Major Key Chords

You can find chords for the other major keys below:

C Major Chords
G Major Chords
D Major Chords
A Major Chords
B Major Chords
F Sharp Major Chords
C Sharp Major Chords
F Major Chords
B Flat Major Chords
E Flat Major Chords
A Flat Major Chords
D Flat Major Chords
G Flat Major Chords
C Flat Major Chords

How to Label the Chords

You may have noticed the chords we built were either major, minor or diminished, and you may be wondering how we can tell the difference between these types. It all comes down to the intervals used to build the chords (learn all about piano intervals here).

But to summarize, there are actually four types of “1 – 3 – 5” chords:

Major
Minor
Augmented
Diminished

A major chord is built using the first, third and fifth notes of the matching major scale.

A minor chord is a major chord with the middle note lowered 1/2 step.

An augmented chord is a major chord with the upper note raised 1/2 step.

A diminished chord is a minor chord with the upper note lowered 1/2 step.

When we build a chord off each note of the major scale, using only the notes of the scale to build the chords, we always get these chord types in this order:

Major
Minor
Minor
Major
Major
Minor
Diminished

Now that you know the pattern, you can use it to find the chords for any major key!

Primary Chords for the Key of E Major

Each major key has three “primary” chords, built off the first, fourth and fifth notes of the scale. Primary chords are used frequently in songs and chord progressions.

So for the key of E major, the three primary chords are:

E major
A major
B major

Conclusion

Now you know how to find the chords for the key of E major, and you can use that knowledge to find the chords for any major key! Using patterns and chords to learn the piano is a wonderful way to enjoy music!