E guitar chord for beginners
Use the Em shape, then add one finger on the G string.
Quick answer
E is a easy beginner guitar chord. Practice it by building the shape slowly, checking every string, and then using it in an easy song.
- Fingers: 3 fingers
- Course order: Day 5
- Tip: Use the Em shape, then add one finger on the G string.
Why E buzzes, and how to fix it
Almost every buzz on E comes from one of three things: a fingertip landing flat instead of on its tip, a finger sitting too far back from the fret wire, or a neighbouring string being brushed by the underside of a finger. Play each string on its own, find the dead one, and fix only that finger. Do not re-grip the whole chord.
The drill that actually works
Getting into E is only half of it — the real skill is leaving and returning. Build the shape, strum once, then lift your whole hand a few centimetres off the neck and rebuild it from nothing. Ten rebuilds teaches your hand more than sixty seconds of holding the chord still, because the muscle memory you need is the arrival, not the hold.
What to practice it with
Practice E next to a chord you can already play cleanly, rather than on its own. Real songs never use one chord, and a shape you can only hold in isolation is not yet usable.
What E looks like
E chord diagram
e|---0--- B|---0--- G|---1--- D|---2--- A|---2--- E|---0---
x means do not play that string. 0 means play the open string.
How to practice E
Build the shape slowly
Place one finger at a time, then strum once and listen for muted strings.
Release and return
Take the hand off, shake out tension, then rebuild the chord without squeezing harder.
Use it in music
Move from the chord into one simple song loop so the shape has a purpose.
Easy songs with E
Fix and practise this chord
Common questions
Is E a beginner guitar chord?
E is easy for most beginners. Practice it slowly and use songs that give your hand time to change.
What songs use E?
Three Little Birds, Sweet Caroline, Achy Breaky Heart and more beginner songs use E.