E Major Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
E Major Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: E, G#, B
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P
Formula: 2W-WH
Number of notes: 3
Also known as: M, ^, , maj
The E Major arpeggio contains 3 notes (E, G#, B). Use the interactive fretboard diagram above to explore each arpeggio shape and pattern on Guitar. Practice ascending and descending from the root note across all strings to learn the sound of this arpeggio.
When to Use the E Major Arpeggio
Play the E Major arpeggio whenever a E Major chord appears in a progression. Unlike scales (which include passing tones), arpeggios guarantee every note you play IS a chord tone, making your solo sound harmonically precise and intentional.
Arpeggio vs. Scale
The E Major arpeggio uses 3 notes (E, G#, B) while the full scale uses 7. The arpeggio is a subset — think of it as the skeleton of the scale. Practice alternating between the arpeggio and the full scale to develop a melodic vocabulary that mixes chord tones with passing tones.
How to Play E Major Arpeggio on Guitar
Start the E Major arpeggio in open position, using the open E string as your root. With only 3 notes (E, G#, B), this arpeggio spans wide intervals across the strings — sweep picking is an efficient way to move through it cleanly. Keep your pick angle consistent and let each note ring individually.
The E Major arpeggio outlines a E major chord and works perfectly over E, Emaj7, E6 harmonies. It is a foundational arpeggio for soloing over major-key progressions and emphasizes the bright, resolved character of the major triad.
Practice Routine — Exercises for Playing
Practice the E Major arpeggio in different octaves, starting low and working up. Then try displacing the octaves — play the root low, the G# an octave higher, and continue leaping. This trains your ear to hear the intervals (1P, 3M, 5P) in any register.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the E Major arpeggio using string skipping — jump over a string between each note to create wider intervals. This technique produces a more pianistic, open sound compared to sweep picking and develops precise right-hand accuracy.
Related Resources
Explore E Major in Other Tunings
- E Major in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- E Major in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- E Major in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- E Major in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- E Major in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- E Major in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- E Major in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- E Major in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- E Major in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- E Major in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- E Major in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- E Major in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- E Major in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- E Major in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)