E Major Ukulele Chord
Bright and full, E major is built from E, G# and B. It is famous as one of the trickiest beginner chords, yet it appears constantly in pop, blues, and Hawaiian songs and resolves beautifully to A.
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 four strings, from the top G string (left) to the A string (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
This shape spreads across three frets: index on the 1st fret of the G string, pinky on the 4th fret of the C string, and middle on the 2nd fret of the A string, with the E string open. The stretch to the pinky is the real challenge, so keep your thumb centered behind the neck and let your hand open up rather than squeezing. Many players prefer an easier barre version higher up the neck.