Is This the EASIEST Way to Play an E Major Chord on Ukulele?

This E major chord position on ukulele might be easier, but is it the best choice? In this video, I give you an easy way to play the dreaded E chord on ukulele and share the reasons why you wouldn’t want to use this position depending on what song you’re playing. I use Coldplay’s “Fix You” and Train’s “Hey Soul Sister” as two song examples with E chords. I give you tips and tricks for how to practice other E chord positions to make them possible, so you can become a better ukulele player.
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[@chingwu8366]

You are one of the few youtubers who teach the chords with how to slide. Many people are showing the tips about how to press, but I just couldn't figure out how to change one chord to the other ... Thanks a ton for the details!

[@TroyNaumu808]

i usually like doing E5 as xx02 also.

[@ayesaacebedo7806]

hi brett wowwie this is newie...amazing what you can play with uke any music....soooo gooood

[@UkuleleTricks]

Thanks for watching, Ayesa!

[@dougandmonsterpuppetschann5169]

Your videos taught me to play uke years ago, when you were just starting ukulele tricks. You were a great teacher then. You are even better now.

[@UkuleleTricks]

Thank you so much, Doug!! I'm glad you enjoyed this video.

[@nicelady51]

I second that. BTW The 5th chords are also called perfect chords. Which, leaving out the middle note in the 1, 3, 5 chord structure, is much easier to play. PERFECT!!

[@philipa.castoro1943]

I also bar the 4th and add the E as the 7th of the A. It feels easier to get to and from this. Thanks, Brett, for another great piece of content and teaching!

[@UkuleleTricks]

A solid choice! Thanks for your comment, Philip!

[@marciaewell2661]

Better choice for playing blues melody

[@shorty36]

Hi Brett what a super lesson thanks a bunch looking forward to trying Bonna

[@UkuleleTricks]

Glad you enjoyed this one, Bonna! Have fun!

[@broadwaygypsy3304]

brilliant thanks !!!!!!

[@UkuleleTricks]

My pleasure!

[@carol.Gibson]

I found another alternate for a song I wanted to play--bar at fret 4 and add the E at 7th fret, but I guess that makes it another E5 chord. FOr the regular E, I use both my middle and ring finger to cover the frets at 4, and either bar or use my index on the 2nd fret, depending on the song. Knowing that other E5 really helps, too! I will also work on strengthening for the bar chords. My fingers are not as flexible these days. I'm 71, so I adjust to what I can do, but I'm loving playing! Thanks for the great tips!

[@UkuleleTricks]

Glad you enjoyed this video, Casugi! That is actually a proper E major chord where you fret 4447! The G# note of the E major chord (E-G#-B) finds itself on the 4th fret of the E-string in that example. It's a great option and one I wish I could have included in the video, so I'm glad you shared it here in the comments!

[@angelm.d.783]

What about 1402, not intuitive, but easy to play but not so much to change to another chord. Still my favourite though!

[@chingwu8366]

After watching the video, I first time noticed how thumb works on the chords :O

[@martinsinairayman743]

Thanks a lot. I'll try that. I play my bangolele with a bluegrass group. There's a lot of A to E to A or D to E to A... With practice, the E5 will be a big help to me & everyone's ears! Cheers.

[@UkuleleTricks]

Oh cool, Martin! Yes, the E5 could work well in that particular context! Thanks for watching.

[@elsiecow7023]

I use the index finger on the A string second fret, ring and index finger on the third and fourth fret. I'll practice more on that E major chord. It will probably take me more than a year, but i would like to have it in my muscle memory. Thanks again for a great video. Ronda

[@UkuleleTricks]

That's definitely an option too! My fingers can't fit for that position, but if you can make it work that way, then do it!

[@mostlygreen1]

I learnt E by using my thumb to bar the first 3 strings and index on the A string. Easy to hit, but as you say, it depends where you're coming from and going to with the chords around it. Thanks for the new options.

[@UkuleleTricks]

You got it! Glad I could spark some new ideas.

[@KidShemsFan1239]

I learned E Major And E5 And Thank u So much For The learning

[@UkuleleTricks]

glad I could help!

[@Spellbound-ze7xv]

I don’t know if he says this in the video or not, but for the E cord, just bridge the top with your thumb and then use your first finger. I know it’s not ideal but it makes it a lot easier.

[@rudybratcher]

Good info. I will try the barre chord to see if I can learn it in the barre format. I actually picked up the E chord a couple of years ago from an internet site showing some variations of playing it. One of the suggestions was that it was okay to wrap the thumb on the 4th fret. Here's the text I found about the E chord: "However it is very difficult to play, especially for someone who is just starting out. You play it with your first finger on the second fret of the A string and then your other fingers on the fourth fret of the G C and E strings, or you barre the three strings with one finger (you can even use your thumb). ..." With small hands, short fingers, and some age-related arthritis (volley-ball injuries), I couldn't get my fingers to reach everything for the E chord but using my thumb for the 4th fret & the index on the 2nd fret A string works for me. It may not be "pretty" on the movement, but I can play the E chord with consistent clarity.

[@UkuleleTricks]

I like it, Rudy. The most important piece of that is the consistent clarity! I know a lot of people like wrapping the thumb. Thanks for your comment!

[@xekolaxo]

I use the 1402 version of E major with the pinky. Just what i first learned

[@lucyandbobmaro5305]

You have a lovely voice

[@UkuleleTricks]

Thank you so much!

[@larushka1]

Due to arthritis, barring is impossible for me, as are stretch chords. So, l substitute with either an E7 or Em depending on what notes surround it. Works great!

[@UkuleleTricks]

Those can work too! Another idea you can consider is playing E = 444X where you fret the top three strings at the 4th fret and mute the bottom A-string (don't let it ring out) and that gives you an E chord option where no stretch is required!

[@ayesaacebedo7806]

hi Brett...looks easy...i can only play E7...what strumming pattern"down down down up down ???

[@UkuleleTricks]

Keep at it, Ayesa!

[@ayesaacebedo7806]

hi Brett...the way you strum looks so tricky to me ...you strumming "index or middle ??? gee i learn sa well what #5 is...the THUMB

[@kanijferdowsi1451]

Oh..sir it’s you!!! I've passed a terrible exam period.. After exam your video!! It’s such a surprise 💜💜 Your student Sudha

[@UkuleleTricks]

I hope your exams went well, Sudha! Thanks for your support.

[@karenlynnkennedy6162]

Wow! I have never done this chord as a double bar ...I always just used all my fingers on the 4th fret, but nice to know about the E5.

[@UkuleleTricks]

You can definitely play it like that as well! For me, my fingers are just too big to fit all my fingers so I am forced to play the double barre. Thanks for your comment, Karen!

[@karenlynnkennedy6162]

@@UkuleleTricks fortunately for me, I have skinny fingers!

[@67angie]

No way I can play barre chords, so I always tried the E major with four fingertips as it's shown in my chord booklet. (Pointer finger on the A string, second fret, the other three fingers in the 4th fret on G, C and E. ) Thought it might be helpful to cut off my first finger and sow it back on an inch behind 😂 I will work on the E5! Thank you 😊👍 Any tricks for any kind of B chords? ( B major, B flat, Bb?). I skip all songs who have Emaj or B chords in them, cause by the time I have my fingers in the right place, the song would be over.

[@UkuleleTricks]

Haha! Yes, I have a video I did awhile back talking about Bb here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZfOoXSZepeomtE

[@karenlynnkennedy6162]

@@67angie I use the same structure for the E chord that you do. As for the B chords, I have mastered them by force because a lot of music I love has both E and B chords. If you keep practicing them, they will get easier.

[@richardsimpson8394]

How about just doing a barre 4 with pinky on the 7th? That's the easiest fingering for me. E =4447 A= 6454 B7= 2322 and barre all three chords, for simple? That's my suggestion for simple playing I IV V7 in E. But, thanks for the ideas for use of that E5 power chord as an alternative.

[@UkuleleTricks]

Thanks for watching, Richard! E = 4447 is another great option too!

[@dougandmonsterpuppetschann5169]

I will try that

[@LeonardLenny]

What’s your ukulele’s brand?

[@JoshuaSteinUkulele]

How do you play Fix You by Coldplay in the key of E on ukulele? I know how to play Hey Soul Sister by Train in the Key of E on ukulele. Ukulele Mike did a lesson on it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIDaoIaAgLhqhc0si=xYMHU-CRuApVpCDv However, he didn't do a lesson on Fix You. I'd like to know how to play it on ukulele in the key of E.

[@keebee2337]

Sir you wanna play Fix You of Coldplay on Ukulele Tutorial, I'm waiting for it. :)

[@UkuleleTricks]

Hmm, maybe! Thanks for your comment!

[@joepardi9369]

Sorry what is that ukulele?

[@UkuleleTricks]

It's a Kala tenor ukulele!

[@pkeelan56]

Or you could buy a baritone and play it like on guitar