E major scale on piano
The E major scale uses the notes E - F♯ - G♯ - A - B - C♯ - D♯ and has 4 sharps.
Numbers on the keys are right-hand fingers (1 = thumb, 5 = little finger).
E major scale fingering
| Hand | E | F♯ | G♯ | A | B | C♯ | D♯ | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Practice each hand alone, slowly, until the thumb crossing feels smooth. Then play hands together at a tempo where you make no mistakes, and raise it a little each day.
Chords in E major
Build a triad on every note of the scale and you get the seven chords that belong to this key:
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I | E major | E - G♯ - B |
| ii | F♯ minor | F♯ - A - C♯ |
| iii | G♯ minor | G♯ - B - D♯ |
| IV | A major | A - C♯ - E |
| V | B major | B - D♯ - F♯ |
| vi | C♯ minor | C♯ - E - G♯ |
| vii° | D♯ diminished | D♯ - F♯ - A |
The most common progression in pop music in this key is E - B - C♯m - A (I - V - vi - IV).
Relative key
C♯ minor is the relative minor of E major. Both scales use the same notes; they simply start on a different note, which changes the mood.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the E major scale?
E major: E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D♯, E.
How many sharps or flats are in E major?
E major has 4 sharps (F♯, G♯, C♯, D♯).
What is the relative minor of E major?
C♯ minor. It shares the same notes and key signature as E major.