The short version
- E5 is E five. Its notes are E and B (formula 1 – 5).
- Easiest way to play it: the open shape, frets 0 2 2 x x x from low E to high E (x = don’t play).
- It sounds loud, neutral and heavy. Use it with distortion, palm-muted, sliding up and down the neck. On a clean guitar it sounds a little bare, which can be the point.
- E5 turns up in 12 keys: C major (as the III5), G major (as the VI5), D major (as the II5), A major (as the V5) and E major (as the I5), and more in the table below.
- Try it in: E5 – D5 – A5 – E5, the riff your neighbours already know through the wall.
How to play E5 on guitar, step by step
Start with the shape marked “Start here” above: the open power chord, the easiest way in.
- Put your index finger on fret 2 of the 5th (A) string.
- Put your middle finger on fret 2 of the 4th (D) string.
- Let the low E string ring open.
- Don’t play the G, B and high E strings: skip them, or touch them lightly with a spare finger so they can’t ring.
- Strum from the 6th (low E) string down, then press Strum on this page to check it sounds the same.
Once that’s comfy, try the other shape. Shape 2 is the power chord, root on the 5th string (fret 7): x 7 9 9 x x. Same chord, different spot on the neck, which helps when the next chord lives nearby.
Buzzing? Press just behind the fret wire, not in the middle of the fret, and come down on your fingertips so they don’t touch the next string. Then press Strum and play along: if yours sounds duller, one string is muted somewhere.
Notes in the E5 chord
E5 is built from 2 notes. On guitar you’ll often play some of them twice, on different strings. That’s normal; the chord is still E5.
| Note | Interval | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| E | 1 root | Names the chord and anchors the bass. |
| B | 5 perfect fifth | Adds weight; often the first note left out. |
What E5 sounds like, and when to use it
Root and fifth, no third, so it’s neither major nor minor. It’s just loud. The power chord is the entire personality of rock, punk and metal. Use it with distortion, palm-muted, sliding up and down the neck. On a clean guitar it sounds a little bare, which can be the point.
What key is E5 in?
E5 turns up in 12 keys: C major (as the III5), G major (as the VI5), D major (as the II5), A major (as the V5) and E major (as the I5), and more in the table below. Tap a key to see the rest of its chords on the circle of fifths.
| Key | Numeral | Spelled as |
|---|---|---|
| C major | III5 | E5 |
| G major | VI5 | E5 |
| D major | II5 | E5 |
| A major | V5 | E5 |
| E major | I5 | E5 |
| B major | IV5 | E5 |
| A minor | V5 | E5 |
| E minor | I5 | E5 |
| B minor | IV5 | E5 |
| F♯ minor | VII5 | E5 |
| C♯ minor | III5 | E5 |
| G♯ minor | VI5 | E5 |
Chords that go with E5
Here’s a progression to try: E5 – D5 – A5 – E5 (I5–♭VII5–IV5–I5), the riff your neighbours already know through the wall.
More progressions → Transpose it →
Using E5 in a Suno prompt
Suno pays attention to chord names in a style prompt, at least some of the time. Put the progression in, keep the BPM, and let it fill in the rest. Then compare its guitar part with the shapes above.
Pop punk, 168 BPM, chord progression E5 – D5 – A5 – E5, palm-muted power chords, distorted guitars, fast punk drums, shouted gang vocals, energetic
E5 chord FAQ
What notes are in the E5 chord?
E5 has 2 notes: E (the root) and B (the perfect fifth). The chord formula is 1 – 5.
How do you play E5 on guitar?
The easy way is open power chord. Strings from low E to high E: 0 2 2 x x x (x means don’t play that string). Put your index finger on fret 2 of the 5th (A) string. Put your middle finger on fret 2 of the 4th (D) string. Let the low E string ring open. Don’t play the G, B and high E strings: skip them, or touch them lightly with a spare finger so they can’t ring.
What does the “5” in E5 mean?
It tells you the chord type: E5 is E five. Root and fifth, no third, so it’s neither major nor minor. It’s just loud. The power chord is the entire personality of rock, punk and metal.
What key is E5 in?
E5 turns up in 12 keys: C major (as the III5), G major (as the VI5), D major (as the II5), A major (as the V5) and E major (as the I5), and more in the table below. Major keys: C major, G major, D major, A major, E major, B major. Minor keys: A minor, E minor, B minor, F♯ minor, C♯ minor, G♯ minor.
What is the difference between E5 and E?
E5 is just the root and fifth (E and B). E adds the major third (G♯), which makes it sound clearly happy. Without the third, a power chord stays neutral, which is why it sounds so good with distortion.
What chords go well with E5?
Try A5, B5, D5 and C5. The progression E5 – D5 – A5 – E5 (I5–♭VII5–IV5–I5) is the riff your neighbours already know through the wall. Press Play progression on this page to hear it.
Other power chord chords
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