E major chordson the 5-string banjo, Open D tuning (f♯DF♯AD)

The scale: E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯

Open strings: No open string is in the E chord in this tuning. F♯ and A fit the key.

Capo: capo 2 and play D major shapes, with the 5th string spiked at the 7th fret (or tuned up to a♭).

The seven chords in E major

  1. I E1111f♯EG♯BE2 2 2 2
  2. ii F♯m2134f♯F♯AC♯F♯4 3 4 4
  3. iii G♯m1231f♯D♯G♯BD♯1 2 2 1
  4. IV A1231f♯EAC♯E2 3 4 2
  5. V B132f♯D♯F♯BD♯1 0 2 1
  6. vi C♯m1131f♯EG♯C♯E2 2 4 2
  7. vii° D♯dim12f♯D♯F♯AD♯1 0 0 1

The chords built on each note of the scale, with the shape the app leads with. The app’s key page also suggests progressions to play them in.

Hear them in the app ›

Other modes on E

E mixolydianE dorianE minor

Other major keys

GADCBF

E major in other tunings

Open GDouble CSawmillC Tuning

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