E Music Note: The Complete Guide to the Note and Key

As one of the twelve notes in Western music, the E music note sits between D#/Eb and F natural. Learn how to recognise E in different clefs, the different scales and modes that start on E and listen to famous songs that feature E prominently in their melodies.

E Note on The Staff

Here is probably the most common E you’ll see. It sits on the first line of the treble clef and is the E above middle C.

Below are different Es that you will see on the treble and bass clef. Remember that we can play E notes an octave higher or lower from the E above middle C. This means that technically there are infinite E notes to choose from!

Below are notes that are enharmonically equivalent to E. D double sharp means two half-steps above D, which is E natural. F flat means one half step below F, which is also E natural.

E Note on the Piano and Keyboard

E sits between the D#/Eb and F keys on the keyboard. The black keys move in groups of two then three. The E note is just above second black key in the groups of 2.

You might also remember it as the third white key above C. This is because E is a major 3rd above C.

E Note Accidentals

We can add accidental signs to an E note and these are shown below. Remember that all these notes (with the exception of E natural) are not enharmonically equivalent to E.

E Music Notes in Different Clefs

Here are typical E notes that you will see in different clefs. Some are lower or higher and for more on how to name the different E notes, check out our post on octaves.

Treble Clef – E

The E above middle C (E4) sits on the first line of the treble clef.

Bass Clef – E

The E below middle C (E3) sits on the third space of the bass clef.

Alto Clef – E

The E above middle C (E4) sits on the fourth line of the alto clef.

Tenor Clef – E

The E above middle C (E4) sits on the top line of the tenor clef.

Mezzo-soprano Clef – E

The E above middle C (E4) sits on the third line of the mezzo-soprano clef.

Soprano Clef – E

The E above middle C (E4) sits on the second line of the soprano clef.

Baritone Clef – E

The E below middle C (E3) sits on the second space of the baritone clef.

Popular Scales starting on E

E Major

The major scale formula is W-W-H-W-W-W-H, where W= whole step and H = half step. Below is the E major scale.

E Natural Minor

The natural minor formula is W-H-W-W-H-W-W. Below is the E natural minor scale.

E Harmonic Minor

The harmonic minor formula is W – H – W – W – H – W1/2 – H. Note that this scale has a three semitone step or a whole-step-and-a-half.

E Melodic Minor

When ascending the melodic minor scale follows this pattern: W-H-W-W-W-W-H.

When descending it follows the natural minor pattern.

Modes Starting on E

Below are the modes that start on E.

Frequency of E Music Note

Using the equal temperament tuning system, the A above middle C is 440 Hz. This means that the E above middle C would be approximately 330 Hz.

Solfege E Note

In the solfege system, the syllables Do, Re Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Si are used to refer to the notes names, C, D, E , F, G, A, B.

The E music note in solfege is referred to as ‘Mi’,

What’s Next…?

• Learn about Chords in the Key of E major
• Learn about more music notes with our music theory basics guides.