This chord has 4 voicings across the fretboard. Use the arrows to see each shape and fingering — and tap any dot on the diagram to hear that note.
E Major Guitar Chord
A powerful, full-sounding open chord using all six strings. E Major is the backbone of rock, blues, and countless guitar riffs.
Also known as
- E
- EM
- E M
- Emaj
- E maj
- Emajor
- E major
How to Play This Chord
Position your fingers on the fretboard as shown in the diagram. The vertical lines represent the strings, from low E (left) to high E (right), and the horizontal lines are the frets. Numbers inside the dots indicate which finger to use: 1 (index), 2 (middle), 3 (ring), 4 (pinky). An X means don't play that string; an O means play it open. A bar spanning multiple strings means one finger presses across all of them at once — this is known as a barre chord.
Tips & Tricks
Open E is often the very first chord guitarists learn, and for good reason — it uses all six strings and sits naturally under the hand. The most common issue is the G# on the G string (1st fret) buzzing. Press firmly right behind the fret and keep your finger arched to avoid touching the open B and D strings.