E power chord · Guitar
E5 Chord on Guitar
The E5 chord (E power chord) is built from the notes E and B. 2 different guitar fingerings for it are shown below.
Chord diagrams
Fingering
- string 6 (E): played open
- string 5 (A): fret 2 — middle finger
- string 4 (D): fret 2 — ring finger
- string 3 (G): muted
- string 2 (B): muted
- string 1 (E): muted
Fingering
- string 6 (E): muted
- string 5 (A): fret 7 — index finger
- string 4 (D): fret 9 — middle finger
- string 3 (G): fret 9 — ring finger
- string 2 (B): muted
- string 1 (E): muted
Notes in this chord
- E
- B
Degrees: 1 – 5
How to play
E5 can be played with open strings on guitar, which makes it an accessible shape for beginners. Strings marked ○ ring open, while strings marked ✕ are muted.
Theory behind the chord
Power chords drop the third entirely, leaving only the root and the fifth. Because they are neither major nor minor, they stay clean under high gain and are the backbone of rock and metal riffs. On E5 this structure sits on the root E, so the degrees 1 – 5 map onto E and B.
Frequently asked questions
- Which notes are in the E5 chord?
- E5 contains the notes E and B. Relative to the root these are the degrees 1 – 5.
- How many ways can you play E5?
- Minory lists 2 guitar fingerings for E5. They all produce the same chord — what changes is the voicing and where it sits on the neck.
- Is the E5 chord hard to play?
- Not really. The open position of E5 uses open strings and needs no barre, which makes it approachable for beginners.
Practise E5 on your phone
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