E major chord on ukulele (E)

E is E, G♯ and B. The usual shape is 1-4-0-2. Hit Play and watch each string light as it sounds.

1-4-0-2 · open · medium

Notes: E · G♯ · B
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5
First shape: 1-4-0-2

How to play E on ukulele

Shape 1, 1-4-0-2, reading from the G string on the left:

G♯: index finger, 1st fret of the G string.
B: middle finger, 2nd fret of the A string.
E: ring finger, 4th fret of the C string.
Leave the E string open: E.

If an open string sounds dead, a fingertip is leaning on it. Come down more on the tips, with your knuckles bent.
The shape stretches across four frets. Bring your thumb lower behind the neck to open the hand up.
Strum with the pad of your index finger or thumb, all four strings, across the spot where the neck meets the body.

Other ways to play E

9-8-7-7: movable shape at the 7th fret, medium. Up the neck the chord gets thinner and brighter, a good contrast to the open version.

Playing E with a capo

No barre needed if a capo is allowed: capo on the 2nd fret and play the open D shape (2-2-2-0), capo on the 4th fret and play the open C shape (0-0-0-3), capo on the 6th fret and play the open B♭ shape (3-2-1-1) or capo on the 7th fret and play the open A shape (2-1-0-0). The chord sounds as E because the capo raises every string by 2 half steps.

E chord changes

Songs rarely hold E for long. Here's what your hand does on the moves that come up most.

A (IV in E major): E (1-4-0-2) to A (2-1-0-0): the index finger slides across to the C string at the same fret, the middle finger goes to the G string, 2nd fret. Listen for E, which stays put while the rest moves. A on ukulele
B (V in E major): E (1-4-0-2) to B (4-3-2-2): your middle finger stays put, your index finger lands on the E string, 2nd fret, move the ring finger to the C string, 3rd fret, the pinky finger comes down on the G string, 4th fret. Shared note: B. B on ukulele
C♯m (vi in E major): E (1-4-0-2) to C♯m (6-4-4-4): your index finger lands on the C string, 4th fret, move the middle finger to the E string, 4th fret, the ring finger goes to the A string, 4th fret, the pinky finger comes down on the G string, 6th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. The two chords share E and G♯, which is why the change sounds smooth. C♯m on ukulele

E has the stable, upbeat sound of every major triad. All 3 notes of E fit on the ukulele's four strings, with one of them doubled. On ukulele you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.

Practice E in two minutes

Before strumming, play 1-4-0-2 note by note: G♯ then E then E then B. A dead note tells you exactly which finger to fix. Next, alternate 1-4-0-2 and 9-8-7-7, slowly, until the change takes less than a beat.

Where E shows up

In E major, I–V–vi–IV on ukulele is E (1-4-0-2), B (4-3-2-2), C♯m (6-4-4-4) and A (2-1-0-0). About the pop progression.

In E major, I–IV–V on ukulele is E (1-4-0-2), A (2-1-0-0) and B (4-3-2-2). About the three-chord progression.

In E major, I–vi–IV–V on ukulele is E (1-4-0-2), C♯m (6-4-4-4), A (2-1-0-0) and B (4-3-2-2). About the 50s progression.

E on guitar and piano

E on guitar and piano uses the same 3 notes in a different layout. See all three together.

Next to try on ukulele

Other major chords

E on ukulele: questions

What notes are in E on ukulele?

E, G♯ and B. In the 1-4-0-2 shape the strings play G♯ (G string), E (C string), E (E string, open) and B (A string), so E is doubled.

What's the easiest way to play E on ukulele?

E takes a little stretching on ukulele; start with 1-4-0-2. It uses 3 fingers and no barre, with open strings, and a capo is worth trying when the song allows.

Is E a barre chord on ukulele?

Not in its common form: 1-4-0-2 needs no barre.

Which string does E start on?

In the 1-4-0-2 shape the lowest string you play is the G string at the 1st fret, which is G♯, the major third.

Shapes and sound are generated from the notes E, G♯ and B and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.