Scale Tone Chords in the Key of E Major
Using scale tone chord theory based upon the E major scale (see Appendix 2), the most common chords in the key of E major are:
You have learned all of these chord shapes except B and G#m, which are introduced next. Even though there are seven scale tone chords, the D#o chord is relatively uncommon. See the chord chart for this diminished chord shape.
The key of E contains three sharps - F#, C#, G# and D#. The key signature for the key of E major is:
The B Major Chord
The B chord is constructed from the B major scale (see Appendix 2). Using the minor chord formula on the B major scale, it can be seen that the B chord contains the notes B, D# and F#. Play the B chord and its two inversions with both your left and right hands in various positions on the keyboard.
B Major - Root Position
The G# Minor (G#m) Chord
Because there is no G# major scale, we must view the G#m chord as being an Ab minor chord, which is constructed from the Ab major scale (see Appendix 2).
Using the minor chord formula on the Ab major scale, gives the notes Ab (G#), B, and Eb (D#). Because this chord occurs most frequently in the key of E, which contains four sharps, it is more conventional to call this chord G#m. When a chord has two different names (e.g., G#m and Abm), it is referred to as an enharmonic chord. Play the three notes of the G#m chord and its two inversions with both your left and right hands, in various positions on the keyboard.
G# Minor - Root Position
As discussed in Lesson 6, the chords contained in a 12 Bar Blues are the I, IV and V7 chords. If we wish to play a Blues in E we need to know a new chord - B7.
The B Seventh (B7) Chord
The B7 chord is constructed form the B major scale (see Appendix 2). Using the seventh chord formula on the B major scale, gives the notes B, D#, F# and A.
Play the four notes of the B7 chord and its three inversions with both your left and right hands, in various positions on the keyboard.
B Seventh - Root Position
Practice improvising or making up your own riffs playing notes from the E Blues scale with your right hand against the left hand part in the previous Blues (or just play the full chord shapes with the left hand).
