Learn › E Major Triad Inversions on Guitar: 12 Shapes
New Released in April 2026
E Major Triad Inversions on Guitar: 12 Shapes
The E major triad on guitar does not need six strings. Three notes, E, G# and B, on three strings give you E anywhere on the neck, in root position, 1st and 2nd inversion.
No account, no download. The demo has limited content. Advanced features are in ChordRunner Premium.
- MIDI keyboard
- Digital or acoustic piano
- Guitar
- Computer, phone or tablet
Same chord, different bottom note
The notes never change, only their order. With G# or B at the bottom, E sounds lighter and lets the melody note on top change.
Bright and stable: the triad most songs are built on.
From one shape to the next
On the G-B-e strings, the shapes go up the neck in this order: 1st inversion (fret 1) → 2nd inversion (fret 5) → root position (fret 9). The top notes along the way are E, G#, B.
Around fret 7, without moving the hand: G-B-e strings 4-5-4; D-G-B strings 6-4-5; A-D-G strings 7-6-4; E-A-D strings 7-7-6.
Where E sits on the neck
Start with the top three strings: the shapes are small and the top note is clear. Then move the same idea to the lower sets.
G-B-e strings
1st inversion
2nd inversion
Root position
D-G-B strings
Root position
1st inversion
2nd inversion
A-D-G strings
2nd inversion
Root position
1st inversion
E-A-D strings
1st inversion
2nd inversion
Root position
Make E triads automatic
- Learn the three shapes on the top strings first, slowly, saying the bottom note each time.
- Climb the neck through the three shapes and come back down without stopping.
- Stay near fret 7 and find E on two different string sets.
- Last, switch between E and another triad in the same area of the neck.
A few minutes a day on one string set is enough; add the next set next week.
All E triad frets in one table
| String set | Root position | 1st inversion | 2nd inversion |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-B-e strings | x x x 9 9 7 | x x x 1 0 0 | x x x 4 5 4 |
| D-G-B strings | x x 2 1 0 x | x x 6 4 5 x | x x 9 9 9 x |
| A-D-G strings | x 7 6 4 x x | x 11 9 9 x x | x 2 2 1 x x |
| E-A-D strings | 12 11 9 x x x | 4 2 2 x x x | 7 7 6 x x x |
Frets from the low E string to the high E string; x = string not played.
Train chord changes on your guitar
In ChordRunner chord names come one after another and the microphone checks every chord you play, open shape, barre or triad. It runs in the browser.
Play the demoCommon questions
How do you play E triads on the top strings?
On the G, B and high E strings: 1st inversion 1-0-0; 2nd inversion 4-5-4; Root position 9-9-7. Play only those three strings.
Which E triad shape is the easiest?
Usually the lowest one on the top strings, 1-0-0, because it sits near the nut.
What does a E triad sound like?
Bright and stable: the triad most songs are built on.
Can I practise E with a game that listens to my guitar?
Yes. ChordRunner hears your guitar through the microphone and checks the chord in any shape or inversion. A USB MIDI keyboard works too.
Your instrument is the controller.
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
Try the demoKeep learning
Guitar Chord Chart: 21 Essential Chords
Guitar chord chart with diagrams: the 7 major, 7 minor and 7 seventh chords guitarists use most, how to read a…
Chord Inversions Explained
Chord inversions explained simply: root position, first and second inversion, why they matter, and how to dril…
Easy Guitar Chords for Beginners
Easy guitar chords for beginners: Em, Am, C, G, D, E, A and Dm with diagrams, the order to learn them and how …
Chord Training That Feels Like a Game
Interactive chord training in your browser. Play major, minor, 7th and extended chords on a MIDI keyboard or a…
Master All 12 Major Chords on Piano
Every major chord on piano with notes and fingering, plus an interactive game that drills all 12 until they ar…
Master All 12 Minor Chords on Piano
All 12 minor chords on piano, how they differ from major, and a game that trains instant recall with your MIDI…