Key · major
The key of E Major
E Major has 4 sharps (F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯). Its scale is E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯. The seven chords built on those degrees are I E, ii F♯m, iii G♯m, IV A, V B, vi C♯m and vii° D♯dim; the dominant is B and the subdominant A. Its relative minor is C♯ Minor and its parallel minor is E Minor.
The scale on the keyboard
Fingering for both hands, the step pattern and the other forms are on the E Major scale page.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Name | Interval from the tonic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | Tonic | Unison |
| 2 | F♯ | Supertonic | Major 2nd |
| 3 | G♯ | Mediant | Major 3rd |
| 4 | A | Subdominant | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | B | Dominant | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | C♯ | Submediant | Major 6th |
| 7 | D♯ | Leading Tone | Major 7th |
Chords in E Major
One chord on each degree of the scale. The dominant is B and the subdominant A.
| Numeral | Triad | Quality | Seventh |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | E | Major | Emaj7 |
| ii | F♯m | Minor | F♯m7 |
| iii | G♯m | Minor | G♯m7 |
| IV | A | Major | Amaj7 |
| V | B | Major | B7 |
| vi | C♯m | Minor | C♯m7 |
| vii° | D♯dim | Diminished | D♯m7♭5 |
Chord functions
| Function | Chords |
|---|---|
| Tonic | I · iii · vi |
| Subdominant | ii · IV |
| Dominant | V · vii° |
Common progressions in E Major
| Progression | Chords | Level |
|---|---|---|
| I – IV – V | E – A – B | Easy |
| I – IV – V – I | E – A – B – E | Easy |
| I – V – vi – IV | E – B – C♯m – A | Easy |
| I – vi – IV – V | E – C♯m – A – B | Easy |
| I – IV – I – V | E – A – E – B | Easy |
| I – V – IV – I | E – B – A – E | Easy |
| I – IV – V – IV | E – A – B – A | Easy |
| I – ii – IV – V | E – F♯m – A – B | Easy |
| vi – IV – I – V | C♯m – A – E – B | Medium |
| I – vi – ii – V | E – C♯m – F♯m – B | Medium |
| I – IV – vi – V | E – A – C♯m – B | Medium |
| I – iii – IV – V | E – G♯m – A – B | Medium |
| I – iii – vi – IV | E – G♯m – C♯m – A | Medium |
| IV – I – V – vi | A – E – B – C♯m | Medium |
| I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – IV – V | E – B – C♯m – G♯m – A – E – A – B | Medium |
| I – IV – vii° – iii – vi – ii – V – I | E – A – D♯dim – G♯m – C♯m – F♯m – B – E | Hard |
| ii – V – I | F♯m – B – E | Medium |
| iim7 – V7 – Imaj7 | F♯m7 – B7 – Emaj7 | Hard |
| ii – V – I – vi | F♯m – B – E – C♯m | Hard |
| I – VI – ii – V | E – C♯ – F♯m – B | Hard |
| I – II – V – I | E – F♯ – B – E | Hard |
| I – bVII – IV – I | E – D – A – E | Medium |
| I – bIII – IV | E – G – A | Medium |
| I – V – bVII – IV | E – B – D – A | Medium |
| I – bVI – bVII – I | E – C – D – E | Hard |
| I – IV – iv – I | E – A – Am – E | Hard |
| 12-Bar Blues (I7 – IV7 – V7) | E7 – E7 – E7 – E7 – A7 – A7 – E7 – E7 – B7 – A7 – E7 – B7 | Medium |
| Quick-Change Blues | E7 – A7 – E7 – E7 – A7 – A7 – E7 – E7 – B7 – A7 – E7 – B7 | Medium |
The other keys
Part of the key reference. See also the chords and the scales.