E5 Chord on Guitar
Notes E B. Start with open E5 (0 2 2 x x x): open low E, index on string 5 fret 2, middle on string 4 fret 2.
Chord · E5 power chord
Open E5 (root on string 6) · 0 2 2 x x x
open strings
Power chord, root on string 4 (fret 2) · x x 2 4 5 x
movable, no open strings
Power chord, root on string 5 (fret 7) · x 7 9 9 x x
movable, no open strings
1 E5 B
- String 6 (low E): open
- String 5 (A): index (1), fret 2
- String 4 (D): middle (2), fret 2
- String 3 (G): muted, do not play
- String 2 (B): muted, do not play
- String 1 (high e): muted, do not play
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 2
- String 3 (G): ring (3), fret 4
- String 2 (B): pinky (4), fret 5
- String 1 (high e): muted, do not play
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): index (1), fret 7
- String 4 (D): ring (3), fret 9
- String 3 (G): pinky (4), fret 9
- String 2 (B): muted, do not play
- String 1 (high e): muted, do not play
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval from E |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | root |
| 5 | B | perfect 5th |
Formula 1 5 (power chord).
More on this chord type: Power chords
Keys that contain E5
| Key | E5 is the |
|---|---|
| E major | I5 |
| E minor | I5 |
| A major | V5 |
| B major | IV5 |
| B minor | IV5 |
| G♯ minor | VI5 |
| C♯ minor | III5 |
| F♯ minor | VII5 |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing E5: what goes wrong
Neither major nor minor
E5 is E and B (and a higher E) with no G or G♯. With no 3rd it works under both E and Em, so it is the usual home chord for heavy riffs in E.
Palm muting
Play 0 2 2 x x x with the picking-hand palm resting on the strings by the bridge for a tight, muted chug, and keep strings 3 to 1 silent.
E5 in a key
E5 is I5 in E, IV5 in B and V5 in A. Move the shape x 7 9 9 x x or x x 2 4 5 x for the same chord in other places on the neck.
Related chords
Learn and practise E5
- Metronomepractise the change to E5 at 60 BPM
- How to read chord chartsstrings, frets, fingers, x and o
- Chord finder (chord namer)name any other shape you find
FAQ
What notes are in E5?
E, B: the 1, 5 of the E5 power chord.
Is E5 the same as E major?
No. E major is E, G♯, B; E5 is E and B only. It sounds neither major nor minor.