e Major

Chords in the key of

The scale’s notes are numbered from 1 to 7. Roman numerals are used to label the basic triad (1-3-5) chords built on each of those notes.

The notes of the E major scale are:

E – F# – G# – A – B – C# – D#

Key of E major

I ii iii IV V vi vii°
E F#m G#m A B C#m D#dim
E major F sharp minor G sharp minor A major B major C sharp minor D sharp diminished
E - G# - B F# - A - C# G# - B - D# A - C# - E B - D# - F# C# - E - G# D# - F# - A

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That’s the diatonic set. If you stay strictly inside the key, these are your friends. The pattern of naming chords for every major key is:

Major, Minor, Minor, Major, Major, Minor, Diminished. Numerals in UPPERCASE (I, IV, V) denote major chords, and numerals in lowercase (ii, iii, vi) denote minor chords.

E Major: Extended Chords

Emaj7
E - G# - B - D

B7
B - E♭ - F# - A

C#m7
C# - E - G# - B

Amaj7
A - D♭ - E - A♭

F#m7
F# - A - C# - E

D Major
D - F# - A

E Major’s Parallel Minor

Changing between parallel keys can feel bold, emotional, and cinematic.

These notes come from the E natural minor scale (G, C, and D), and are commonly borrowed individually to colour chords in E major:

Parallel Minor: E major yoinks from E minor

♭III iv v ♭VI ♭VII
G Am Bm C D
G major A minor B minor C major D major
G - B - D A - C - E B - D - F# C - E - G D - F# - A

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