Learn › E Major Chord on Piano, Left Hand (E)
New Released in April 2026
E Major Chord on Piano, Left Hand (E)
For the E major chord (E) on piano, the left hand takes E, G# and B with fingers 5 3 1. Then come the patterns that make a left hand sound like a real accompaniment.
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- MIDI keyboard
- Digital or acoustic piano
- Guitar
- Computer, phone or tablet
Left-hand E: shapes and fingers
Play each position slowly, then name the bottom note: that note is what the listener hears as the bass. Black keys: G# (finger 3). White keys: E B (finger 5, 1). Move the hand slightly in so the fingers on black keys do not slip.
| Position | Notes, bottom up | Fingers |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | E G# B | 5 3 1 |
| 1st inversion | G# B E | 5 3 1 |
| 2nd inversion | B E G# | 5 2 1 |
E → A → B → E with a quiet left hand
Do not play every chord in root position: the hand would jump. These positions move one or two keys at a time.
| Chord | Left hand plays | Keys that stay |
|---|---|---|
| E | E G# B (Root position) | starting chord |
| A | E A C# (2nd inversion) | E |
| B | D# F# B (1st inversion) | new position |
| E | E G# B (Root position) | B |
A left-hand routine for E
- Place finger 5 on E, then let the other fingers fall on G# and B.
- Play the first three patterns of the table, four bars each: block chord; walk up the chord; root and fifth.
- Play E → A → B → E slowly until the change happens without looking down.
- Last, add a simple right-hand note on top: the left hand should keep going on its own.
Ten minutes a day for one week is usually enough for one left-hand chord to feel natural.
Ways to accompany with E
Same chord, five rhythms. The pattern changes the style more than the notes.
| Pattern | Notes | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Block chord | E+G#+B | slow songs, ballads, the first week |
| Walk up the chord | E G# B E | linking chords, a bass that sings |
| Root and fifth | E+B | rock and pop, a full bass with two fingers |
| Broken chord (low, high, middle, high) | E B G# B | classical style, gentle songs |
| Arpeggio up and down | E G# B G# | waltzes and slow ballads |
What the right hand plays over E
The right hand can play the melody using E G# B: those keys always fit over E.
If both hands play the same notes in the same octave the sound gets thick: leave a gap.
Train E against the clock
In ChordRunner the chord symbols keep coming and every correct chord moves your runner forward. A MIDI keyboard is detected automatically, and a real piano works through the microphone.
Play the demoCommon questions
What fingers do I use for E in the left hand?
Root position 5 3 1, from the bottom note up. 1st inversion 5 3 1, 2nd inversion 5 2 1.
Which E position is best for the left hand?
The one closest to the next chord. In E → A → B → E the hand plays E = E G# B; A = E A C#; B = D# F# B; E = E G# B.
Why are left-hand fingers different from the right hand for E?
Because the hand is mirrored: the little finger (5) sits on the bottom note E and the thumb on top. The right hand would play the same notes with 1 3 5.
Can I practise left-hand chords with a MIDI keyboard?
Yes. ChordRunner detects a USB MIDI keyboard automatically, and an acoustic piano works through the microphone. It accepts E in any octave, so you can train the left hand alone.
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.
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