Banjo E chord (Open G)E major on the 5-string banjo: 2 1 0 2, and 1 more shape
Frets, string 4 to string 1: 2 1 0 2 (open position)
- String 4 (D): 2nd fret, middle finger, E
- String 3 (G): 1st fret, index finger, G♯
- String 2 (B): open, B
- String 1 (D): 2nd fret, ring finger, E
- String 5, the short g: open, G, 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 g rubs against the G♯ in this shape, a semitone away: some players let it ring, some skip it.
Up the neck: D shape: 6 4 5 6 (4fr); Barre shape: 9 9 9 9 (9fr); F shape: 14 13 12 14 (12fr). Slide a shape up or down to play another chord of its kind.
Open G tuning: gDGBD, the short 5th string first, then strings 4 to 1.
The app starts in open G, so it opens on these shapes.
More E shapes
- 6 9 0 6
6fr
Other E chords in Open G
Other major chords
E in other tunings
All Open G banjo chords · Printable chart (PDF) · How to tune · The app