Chords in the key of E major
The key of E major has seven diatonic chords: E, F#mF#mF#mF#m, G#mG#mG#mG#m, A, B, C#mC#mC#mC#m and D#°. As sevenths: Emaj7Emaj7Emaj7Emaj7, F#m7F#m7F#m7F#m7, G#m7G#m7G#m7G#m7, Amaj7Amaj7Amaj7Amaj7, B7B7B7B7, C#m7C#m7C#m7C#m7 and D#m7b5. They come from the E major scale, E, F#, G#, A, B, C# and D#, one on each note.
The table shows each chord in two versions: the triad (the three-note chord) and the seventh chord (the same chord with a fourth note, the seventh, that enriches it).
Notes: E – F# – G# – A – B – C# – D#| Degree | Triad | Seventh | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | EEEE | Emaj7Emaj7Emaj7Emaj7 | tonic |
| ii | F#mF#mF#mF#m | F#m7F#m7F#m7F#m7 | subdominant |
| iii | G#mG#mG#mG#m | G#m7G#m7G#m7G#m7 | tonic |
| IV | AAAA | Amaj7Amaj7Amaj7Amaj7 | subdominant |
| V | BBBB | B7B7B7B7 | dominant |
| vi | C#mC#mC#mC#m | C#m7C#m7C#m7C#m7 | tonic |
| vii° | D#° | D#m7b5 | dominant |
The roman numerals mark the chord's position in the scale: I is the first degree, V the fifth. Uppercase = major chord; lowercase = minor; ° = diminished.
Tonic chords stabilize and rest; subdominant chords prepare motion; dominant chords build the tension that asks for resolution.