E major
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| Relative key | C♯ minor | |
|---|---|---|
| Parallel key | E minor | |
| Component pitches | ||
| E, F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D♯, E | ||
E major is a major scale based on E, consisting of the pitches E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D# and E. Its key signature consists of four sharps.
Its relative minor is C-sharp minor, and its parallel minor is E minor.
Only two of Haydn's 104 symphonies are in E major, No. 12 and No. 29. Even in the 19th Century, symphonies in this key were rare, with Bruckner's Symphony No. 7 being one of very few examples. Two symphonies that begin in D minor and end in E major are Havergal Brian's Gothic Symphony and Nielsen's Symphony No. 4 in D minor.
Also, E major is the key for the final movements of Sergei Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2 and Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10.
Though it is a difficult key for wind instruments, it is acceptable for orchestral strings, and quite suitable for the guitar. If available, clarinets in A should be used instead of clarinets in B-flat; the A clarinets would be written in G major, while the B-flats would be written in F-sharp or G-flat major.
The bells of Big Ben (the Westminister Quarters) are tuned to the key of E Major (the notes E, B, G-sharp and F-sharp).
[edit] Well-known contemporary music in this key
- 99 Luftballoons - Nena
- All Right - Christopher Cross
- Another Girl Another Planet - The Only Ones
- Baby Don't Forget My Number - Milli Vanilli
- Be My Baby - The Ronettes
- Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve
- Black Or White - Michael Jackson
- Boom Boom - John Lee Hooker
- California (Theme from The O.C.) - Phantom Planet
- Candle In The Wind - Elton John
- Candyman - Christina Aguilera
- Dance the Night Away - The Mavericks
- Day Tripper - The Beatles
- Doesn't Remind Me - Audioslave
- Do Wah Diddy Diddy - Manfred Mann
- Don't Think Twice, It's All Right - Bob Dylan
- Don't Worry Baby - The Beach Boys (chorus in F-sharp major)
- Ebony and Ivory - Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
- Electrical Storm - U2
- Epic - Faith No More
- For What It's Worth (Stop, Hey What's That Sound?) - Buffalo Springfield
- Futurama TV Theme
- God Only Knows - The Beach Boys
- Goodbye My Lover - James Blunt
- Hampster Dance
- Heart of Glass - Blondie
- Holy Grail - Hunters & Collectors
- House on Pooh corner - Kenny Loggins (the last verse is in G major)
- I Could Fall In Love - Selena
- I Go to Pieces - Peter and Gordon
- I'm on Fire - Bruce Springsteen
- I'm Too Sexy - Right Said Fred
- The Impression That I Get - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
- (I've Had) The Time of My Life - Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
- Life In The Fast Lane - Eagles
- Lightning Crashes - Live
- Music - John Miles
- My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion (also in A-flat major)
- My Sweet Lord - George Harrison (also in F-sharp major)
- New Kid in Town - Eagles
- No Such Thing - John Mayer
- Nowhere Man - The Beatles
- Ramble On - Led Zeppelin
- Rebel Rebel - David Bowie
- Rocky Mountain High - John Denver
- Running Free - Iron Maiden
- Sister Golden Hair - Gerry Beckley
- Smokestack Lightnin' - Howlin' Wolf
- Suite Life of Zack and Cody theme
- Tell Her No - The Zombies
- Thank You For The Music - ABBA
- Tiny Toon Adventures theme
- Under the Bridge - Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Uptown Girl - Billy Joel
- Voodoo Child (Slight Return) - Jimi Hendrix
- Waterloo Sunset - The Kinks
- What'd I Say - Ray Charles
- William Tell Overture - Gioacchino Rossini (4th part)
- With a Little Help from My Friends - The Beatles
- Who Are You - The Who
- What I Like About You - The Romantics
- Why Worry - Dire Straits
- You're Gonna Miss Me - 13th Floor Elevators (final chorus in C major)
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| lower case letters are minor the table indicates the number of sharps or flats in each scale |
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[edit] External links
- E Major - Free E Major Scale Print Out with Arpeggios and Broken Chords for Piano with Fingering
