E Major Bass Chord
All positions and voicings on the fretboard
E Major filtered by fret:
No playable voicings found for this chord on bass. This chord type requires more notes than the bass guitar's 4 strings can voice. Try a simpler chord type.
E Major — chord details
The E Major chord is made up of the following notes: E, G#, B.
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P.
The diagrams above show every voicing and chord variation for E Major on bass guitar. Use the fret filter to narrow down voicings within a specific fret range — ideal for bass lines, chord fills, and double stops.
The E major chord is built by stacking a major third and a perfect fifth above the root, creating the interval structure 1P, 3M, 5P with the notes E, G#, B. This combination produces the most fundamental and stable sound in Western harmony — bright, resolved, and confident. Major chords serve as the harmonic anchor in virtually every genre, conveying feelings of happiness, strength, and resolution. Understanding the major triad is the first step toward mastering chord construction.
How to Play E Major
E major can be voiced in multiple ways depending on your instrument and musical context. Experiment with different inversions and positions to find voicings that connect smoothly to surrounding chords in your progression.
E Major in Progressions
E major naturally appears as the I chord in E major, the IV chord in B major, and the V chord in A major. It also functions as the bVI in C# minor. This versatility makes it one of the most frequently used chords in all of popular music.
Common Substitutions
Try substituting Emaj7, Eadd9, or C#m for a different color while maintaining a similar harmonic function.
Difficulty: On guitar, this chord has a comfortable open voicing — suitable for beginners and widely used in popular songs.