Learn the E major scale — notes, intervals, chords, modes, and more.
The E major scale contains the following notes:
E – F♯ – G♯ – A – B – C♯ – D♯The scale degrees of the E major scale are:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7| Scale Degree | Note |
|---|---|
| 1 | E |
| 2 | F♯ |
| 3 | G♯ |
| 4 | A |
| 5 | B |
| 6 | C♯ |
| 7 | D♯ |
The E major scale uses the interval pattern W, W, H, W, W, W, H
| From | To | Step |
|---|---|---|
| E | F♯ | W |
| F♯ | G♯ | W |
| G♯ | A | H |
| A | B | W |
| B | C♯ | W |
| C♯ | D♯ | W |
| D♯ | E | H |
| Scale Degree | Note | Interval from E |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | Perfect Unison |
| 2 | F♯ | Major 2nd |
| 3 | G♯ | Major 3rd |
| 4 | A | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | B | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | C♯ | Major 6th |
| 7 | D♯ | Major 7th |
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I | E | E, G♯, B |
| ii | F♯m | F♯, A, C♯ |
| iii | G♯m | G♯, B, D♯ |
| IV | A | A, C♯, E |
| V | B | B, D♯, F♯ |
| vi | C♯m | C♯, E, G♯ |
| vii° | D♯dim | D♯, F♯, A |
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Imaj7 | Emaj7 | E, G♯, B, D♯ |
| ii7 | F♯m7 | F♯, A, C♯, E |
| iii7 | G♯m7 | G♯, B, D♯, F♯ |
| IVmaj7 | Amaj7 | A, C♯, E, G♯ |
| V7 | B7 | B, D♯, F♯, A |
| vi7 | C♯m7 | C♯, E, G♯, B |
| viiø7 | D♯m7♭5 | D♯, F♯, A, C♯ |
The modes of E major use the same notes but start on different scale degrees.
| Mode | Starting note | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| E Ionian | E | E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D♯ |
| F♯ Dorian | F♯ | F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D♯, E |
| G♯ Phrygian | G♯ | G♯, A, B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯ |
| A Lydian | A | A, B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯ |
| B Mixolydian | B | B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A |
| C♯ Aeolian | C♯ | C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A, B |
| D♯ Locrian | D♯ | D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯ |
The relative minor is C♯ minor. C♯ natural minor uses the exact same 7 notes as E major but starts on the 6th degree (C♯).
E Lydian has a raised 4th (A♯), while E major has a perfect 4th (A). That single note difference gives Lydian a dreamy, floating quality compared to the grounded sound of major.
E Mixolydian has a flat 7th (D), while E major has a major 7th (D♯). This gives Mixolydian a slightly bluesy, dominant-chord quality while major sounds fully resolved.
E minor has a minor 3rd (G), minor 6th (C), and minor 7th (D), while E major has a major 3rd (G♯), major 6th (C♯), and major 7th (D♯). This gives minor its darker, more melancholic sound compared to the bright, stable quality of major.