5 Ways to Play the E chord on Guitar

Below are 5 different ways to play the E chord on guitar.

Once you’ve mastered some of the basic chords on guitar it’s a great idea to learn different chords – like 7^th chords, sus4 chords etc.

But there’s another way you can expand your repertoire – and that’s by learning how to play the same chords but in different ways, in different positions on the fingerboard.

For clarification, when I say E, I mean E major.

The first 2 variations below are quite common and you probably already know them. The other 3 you may or may not know how to play. They will give you options to play this chord in a less common way, which can add color and variation to songs you play or write.

E Chord Variation 1: Open E

This is the most used and most known of all the E chords (with variation 2 a close second).

This is played by:

1. Placing your 1^st finger (index finger) in the 1^st fret of the G string
2. Placing your 2^nd finger (middle finger) in the 2^nd fret of the A string
3. Placing your 3^rd finger (ring finger) in the 2^nd fret of the D string

All strings are strummed when playing this as a strummed chord.

Some people play this using their 2^nd, 3^rd & 4^th fingers instead but this is the most common way and it can allow freedom for your 4^th finger (pinky) to do other things with the chord.

E Chord Variation 2: Barre E

The Barre E chord is played by barring the 7^th fret and creating the open A shape in the 9^th fret. All the strings except for the Low E are strummed when strumming this chord.

This way of playing E is also very common.

If you aren’t sure about how to play barre chords check out the link below.

>>How to Play Major Barre Chords on Guitar

How you create the A shape is up to you. Personally, I find it difficult to fit all 3 of my fingers into the 9^th fret so I make that A shape by barring the D, G, & B strings in the 9^th fret with my 3^rd finger (ring finger).

Alternatively, you can play this by barring the 12 fret and making an open E shape in the 13^th and 14^th frets – this is essentially the same chord but it can be difficult to get your fingers in the right place if you don’t have a cutaway on your guitar.

E Chord Variation 3: Beyond the 12^th Fret

The 3^rd variation is a simple addition to standard open E chord and can add color and sometimes might be more suited to a piece of music or offer a nice alternative. Or if you are jamming it can be a good one to play if you don’t want to move back to the first fret.

Here’s the third variation.

1. Place your 1^st finger on the 13^th fret on the G string
2. Place your 2^nd finger on the 14^th fret on the A string
3. Place your 3^rd finger on the 14^th fret on the D string
4. Strum all the strings

It’s that easy but it has a very different character to the standard open E. This is essentially playing the same shape but starting in the 13^th fret instead of the 1^st fret.

You can add other variations to this variation by playing the E shape with your 2^nd, 3^rd & 4^th fingers and using your first finger in either the 12^th fret of the Low E or the 12^th fret of the high E string. Though I personally don’t find it that comfortable playing this chord with my 1^st finger on the high E 12^th fret – but everyone is different.

E Chord Variation 4: Mid Fingerboard

This a good mid fingerboard option. And there are a couple of different variations within this variation.

1. Barre first finger across the G, B and high e strings in the 4^th fret
2. Place the 2^nd finger in the 5^th fret on the B string
3. Place the 3^rd finger in the 6^th fret on the D string
4. Place the 4^th finger in the 7^th fret on the A string

You can either strum this (not playing the Low E) or miss out the D string and pluck the A string with your thumb and pluck the G, B and E strings with the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd fingers of your right hand (or left hand if left handed).

Or you could strum it and include the Low E string.

To add a different flavor you could also play this with an open Low E and open High E. This would be played.

1. 1^st finger in 4^th fret G string
2. 2^nd finger in 5^th fret B string
3. 3^rd finger in 6^th fret D string
4. 4^th finger in 7^th fret A string

You could either play this by strumming all the strings or by just using the high E or just the Low E – or even leaving out both the high and low Es.

E Chord Variation 5: Between Variation 3 & 4

Finally let’s take a look at an E that’s in between the 3^rd and 4^th variation above – in terms of location on the fingerboard.

1. Place 1^st finger in 6^th fret on D string
2. Place 2^nd finger in 7^th fret on A string
3. Place 3^rd finger in 7^th fret on High E string
4. Place 4^th finger in 9^th fret on G string

If strumming, you can strum all the strings or leave out the Low E.

Alternatively, you can:

1. Place 1^st finger in 6^th fret on D string
2. Place 2^nd finger in 7^th fret on A string
3. Place 4^th finger in 9^th fret on G string

And play the high E open.

Thanks for Reading

I hope this post has given you some new options for playing the E major chord. Are there any other ways that you like to play E. If there are any other ways you like to play it, feel free to leave a comment below.