Home › Guitar chord chart › E chords Standard tuning · open & barre shapes
E Guitar Chords
Every common E chord on guitar — major, minor, sevenths, sus, add9, diminished and more — with up to three ways to play each one, from open position to barre chords up the neck. Tap ▶ Strum to hear a shape, or Pick to hear it one string at a time.
E E major Notes: E – G# – B · Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 · Bright and stable — the most common chord there is.
Loop it E chord — EADGBE tuning (0-2-2-1-0-0) E B E G# B E Open position 0 2 2 1 0 0 ▶ Strum Pick E chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-2-4-5-4) 2fr × × E B E G# Root on string 4, fret 2 x x 2 4 5 4 ▶ Strum Pick E chord — EADGBE tuning (X-7-6-4-5-4) 4fr × E G# B E G# C-shape, root on string 5, fret 7 x 7 6 4 5 4 ▶ Strum Pick
Em E minor Notes: E – G – B · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – 5 · Darker and sadder than major.
Loop it Em chord — EADGBE tuning (0-2-2-0-0-0) E B E G B E Open position 0 2 2 0 0 0 ▶ Strum Pick Em chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-2-4-5-3) 2fr × × E B E G Root on string 4, fret 2 x x 2 4 5 3 ▶ Strum Pick Em chord — EADGBE tuning (X-7-9-9-8-7) 7fr × E B E G B Barre, root on string 5, fret 7 x 7 9 9 8 7 ▶ Strum Pick
E7 E dominant 7th Notes: E – G# – B – D · Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 · Bluesy and restless; wants to move to the chord a fifth below.
Loop it E7 chord — EADGBE tuning (0-2-0-1-0-0) E B D G# B E Open position 0 2 0 1 0 0 ▶ Strum Pick E7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-2-4-3-4) × × E B D G# Root on string 4, fret 2 x x 2 4 3 4 ▶ Strum Pick E7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-7-9-7-9-7) 7fr × E B D G# B Barre, root on string 5, fret 7 x 7 9 7 9 7 ▶ Strum Pick
Emaj7 E major 7th Notes: E – G# – B – D# · Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 · Soft, dreamy and jazzy.
Loop it Emaj7 chord — EADGBE tuning (0-2-1-1-0-0) E B D# G# B E Open position 0 2 1 1 0 0 ▶ Strum Pick Emaj7 chord — EADGBE tuning (0-X-1-1-0-X) × × E D# G# B Open position 0 x 1 1 0 x ▶ Strum Pick Emaj7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-2-4-4-4) × × E B D# G# Root on string 4, fret 2 x x 2 4 4 4 ▶ Strum Pick
Em7 E minor 7th Notes: E – G – B – D · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – 5 – ♭7 · Mellow minor — soul, R&B and jazz.
Loop it Em7 chord — EADGBE tuning (0-2-2-0-3-0) E B E G D E Open position 0 2 2 0 3 0 ▶ Strum Pick Em7 chord — EADGBE tuning (0-2-0-0-0-0) E B D G B E Open position 0 2 0 0 0 0 ▶ Strum Pick Em7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-2-4-3-3) × × E B D G Root on string 4, fret 2 x x 2 4 3 3 ▶ Strum Pick
Esus2 E suspended 2nd Notes: E – F# – B · Formula: 1 – 2 – 5 · Open and airy: neither major nor minor.
Loop it Esus2 chord — EADGBE tuning (0-2-4-4-X-X) × × E B F# B Open position 0 2 4 4 x x ▶ Strum Pick Esus2 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-2-4-5-2) 2fr × × E B E F# Root on string 4, fret 2 x x 2 4 5 2 ▶ Strum Pick Esus2 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-7-9-9-7-7) 7fr × E B E F# B Barre, root on string 5, fret 7 x 7 9 9 7 7 ▶ Strum Pick
Esus4 E suspended 4th Notes: E – A – B · Formula: 1 – 4 – 5 · Tense in a gentle way; usually resolves to major.
Loop it Esus4 chord — EADGBE tuning (0-2-2-2-0-0) E B E A B E Open position 0 2 2 2 0 0 ▶ Strum Pick Esus4 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-2-4-5-5) 2fr × × E B E A Root on string 4, fret 2 x x 2 4 5 5 ▶ Strum Pick Esus4 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-7-9-9-10-7) 7fr × E B E A B Barre, root on string 5, fret 7 x 7 9 9 10 7 ▶ Strum Pick
Eadd9 E add 9 Notes: E – F# – G# – B · Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 9 · A major chord with sparkle on top.
Loop it Eadd9 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-7-6-4-7-4) 4fr × E G# B F# G# C-shape, root on string 5, fret 7 x 7 6 4 7 4 ▶ Strum Pick Eadd9 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-7-9-11-9-7) 7fr × E B F# G# B Barre, root on string 5, fret 7 x 7 9 11 9 7 ▶ Strum Pick
E6 E major 6th Notes: E – G# – B – C# · Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 6 · Sweet, vintage sound — swing and country.
Loop it E6 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-2-4-2-4) × × E B C# G# Root on string 4, fret 2 x x 2 4 2 4 ▶ Strum Pick E6 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-7-9-9-9-9) 7fr × E B E G# C# Barre, root on string 5, fret 7 x 7 9 9 9 9 ▶ Strum Pick
Em6 E minor 6th Notes: E – G – B – C# · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – 5 – 6 · Minor with a mysterious, film-noir twist.
Loop it Em6 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-2-4-2-3) × × E B C# G Root on string 4, fret 2 x x 2 4 2 3 ▶ Strum Pick Em6 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-7-9-9-8-9) 7fr × E B E G C# Barre, root on string 5, fret 7 x 7 9 9 8 9 ▶ Strum Pick
E9 E dominant 9th Notes: E – F# – G# – B – D · Formula: 1 – 3 – (5) – ♭7 – 9 · Funky and soulful.
Loop it E9 chord — EADGBE tuning (0-2-0-1-0-2) E B D G# B F# Open position 0 2 0 1 0 2 ▶ Strum Pick E9 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-7-6-7-7-7) 6fr × E G# D F# B Barre, root on string 5, fret 7 x 7 6 7 7 7 ▶ Strum Pick E9 chord — EADGBE tuning (12-14-12-13-12-14) 12fr E B D G# B F# Barre, root on string 6, fret 12 12 14 12 13 12 14 ▶ Strum Pick
Edim E diminished Notes: E – G – A# · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 · Tense and unstable — a passing chord.
Loop it Edim chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-2-3-5-3) 2fr × × E A# E G Root on string 4, fret 2 x x 2 3 5 3 ▶ Strum Pick Edim chord — EADGBE tuning (X-7-8-9-8-X) 7fr × × E A# E G Barre, root on string 5, fret 7 x 7 8 9 8 x ▶ Strum Pick
Edim7 E diminished 7th Notes: E – G – A# – C# · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 – 𝄫7 · Dramatic and symmetrical: repeats every 3 frets.
Loop it Edim7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-2-3-2-3) × × E A# C# G Root on string 4, fret 2 x x 2 3 2 3 ▶ Strum Pick Edim7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-7-8-9-8-9) 7fr × E A# E G C# Barre, root on string 5, fret 7 x 7 8 9 8 9 ▶ Strum Pick Edim7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-14-15-14-15) 14fr × × E A# C# G Root on string 4, fret 14 x x 14 15 14 15 ▶ Strum Pick
Em7b5 E half-diminished (m7♭5) Notes: E – G – A# – D · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 – ♭7 · The ii chord of minor keys.
Loop it Em7b5 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-2-3-3-3) × × E A# D G Root on string 4, fret 2 x x 2 3 3 3 ▶ Strum Pick Em7b5 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-7-8-7-8-X) 7fr × × E A# D G Barre, root on string 5, fret 7 x 7 8 7 8 x ▶ Strum Pick Em7b5 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-14-15-15-15) 14fr × × E A# D G Root on string 4, fret 14 x x 14 15 15 15 ▶ Strum Pick
Eaug E augmented Notes: E – G# – C · Formula: 1 – 3 – ♯5 · Dreamy and unresolved; repeats every 4 frets.
Loop it Eaug chord — EADGBE tuning (0-3-2-1-1-0) E C E G# C E Open position 0 3 2 1 1 0 ▶ Strum Pick Eaug chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-2-5-5-4) 2fr × × E C E G# Root on string 4, fret 2 x x 2 5 5 4 ▶ Strum Pick Eaug chord — EADGBE tuning (X-7-10-9-9-8) 7fr × E C E G# C Barre, root on string 5, fret 7 x 7 10 9 9 8 ▶ Strum Pick
E5 E power chord (5) Notes: E – B · Formula: 1 – 5 · No 3rd, so it suits distortion — rock and metal.
Loop it E5 chord — EADGBE tuning (0-2-2-X-X-X) × × × E B E Open position 0 2 2 x x x ▶ Strum Pick E5 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-7-9-9-X-X) 7fr × × × E B E Barre, root on string 5, fret 7 x 7 9 9 x x ▶ Strum Pick E5 chord — EADGBE tuning (12-14-14-X-X-X) 12fr × × × E B E Barre, root on string 6, fret 12 12 14 14 x x x ▶ Strum Pick
Where E chords show up
E major is the I, IV or V chord in the keys of A, E, B. Em is the ii, iii or vi chord in C, G, D. Try a progression that uses it in the progressions library , or find the key of your own song with the key finder .
How to read these chord diagrams
Strings run left to right from the thick low E (string 6) to the thin high E (string 1). A dot means press that fret; O above the nut means play the string open, × means don't play it. A bar across several strings is a barre — press them all with one finger. Red dots are the root note (E). The letters under each diagram are the notes that sound.
Not in standard tuning? The chord finder works out shapes for any tuning, and the tunings library has chord charts for 20 alternate tunings.
Questions How do you play a E chord on guitar? The most common E major shape is shown first on this page in open position; the diagram shows which frets to press and which strings to skip.
What notes are in a E chord? E major contains E – G# – B. E minor lowers the middle note by one fret.