Mandolin E chordE major: 1 2 2 0, and 4 more shapes
Frets, low course to high: 1 2 2 0 (open position) · E/G#
- G course: 1st fret, index finger, G♯
- D course: 2nd fret, middle finger (barre), E
- A course: 2nd fret, middle finger (barre), B
- E course: open, E
Sounds: G♯ E B E · E is E, G♯, B (1 · 3 · 5)
Found in: A major (V), E major (I), B major (IV), E mixolydian (I), B mixolydian (IV), B dorian (IV)
Open courses that ring: E is a note of E, so it can drone under it.
No 3rd: E5 (x 2 2 0) leaves the 3rd out, so it backs E major, mixolydian, dorian and minor tunes alike.
Tuning GDAE: G D A E, low to high.
The link can’t set the tuning: the app starts on the Irish bouzouki in GDAD. Choose Mandolin once in its Settings and it remembers.
More E shapes
- 4 2 2 4
open · E/B - 4 6 7 0
4fr · E/B - 9 6 7 7
6fr - 9 9 11 0
9fr
E in session keys
- A major (V, a main chord): A – D – A – E (a plain backing for many reels and jigs)
- E major (I, a main chord): E – A – E – B (a plain backing for many reels and jigs)
- B major (IV, a main chord): B – E – B – F♯ (a plain backing for many reels and jigs)
- E mixolydian (I, a main chord): E – D – E
- B mixolydian (IV, a main chord): B – E – B – A (reels in D or A mix)
- B dorian (IV, a main chord): Bm – A – E – Bm (the major IV is the dorian colour)
Other E chords, Mandolin GDAE
Other major chords
E in other tunings
All Mandolin GDAE chords · Printable chart (PDF) · Tuning · The app