Banjo E chord (Open D)E major on the 5-string banjo: 2 2 2 2, and 3 more shapes

E chord chart for 5-string banjo in Open D tuning: 2 2 2 2, first position, with the short 5th string marked
E (E major) on the 5-string banjo, Open D: 2 2 2 2, string 4 to string 1. Fingers are numbered on the dots; copper marks the root; the green ring on the left is the 5th string, solid when it’s in the chord.

Frets, string 4 to string 1: 2 2 2 2 (first position)

  1. String 4 (D): 2nd fret, index finger (barre), E
  2. String 3 (F♯): 2nd fret, index finger (barre), G♯
  3. String 2 (A): 2nd fret, index finger (barre), B
  4. String 1 (D): 2nd fret, index finger (barre), E
  5. String 5, the short f♯: open, F♯, not in the chord

Sounds: E G♯ B E  ·  E is E, G♯, B (1 · 3 · 5)

Found in: A major (V), B major (IV), B mixolydian (IV), B dorian (IV), E major (I), E mixolydian (I)

The 5th string: the short f♯ adds the 9th over E, a colour rather than a clash.

With a capo: on the 2nd fret it’s 0 0 0 0 (frets counted from the capo), an open D shape. Spike the 5th string at the 7th fret to keep it in tune with the capo.

Open D tuning: f♯DF♯AD, the short 5th string first, then strings 4 to 1.

Hear it in the app ›

The link can’t set the tuning: the app starts in open G. Choose Open D once in its Settings and it remembers.

More E shapes

  1. 5fr2143f♯G♯BEG♯6 5 7 6
    5fr
  2. 9fr1231f♯BEG♯B9 10 11 9
    9fr
  3. 14fr1111f♯EG♯BE14 14 14 14
    14fr

Other E chords in Open D

EEmE7Em7Emaj7E6Esus4Esus2EdimEaug

Other major chords

GADCBEFB♭E♭F♯C♯A♭

E in other tunings

Open GDouble CSawmillC Tuning

All Open D banjo chords · Printable chart (PDF) · How to tune · The app