20 Popular Songs in E Major

The E major scale consists of the notes E – F# – G# – A – B – C# – D# – E. On piano, this key uses four sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#), giving it a bright, resonant, ringing quality. Some musicians describe E major as the “brightest and most powerful” major key.

For pianists, E major offers a mixture of white and black keys that encourages dexterity and expressive hand-movement. When playing songs in E major, you’ll often find the chords E (I), A (IV), B (V) forming the backbone of harmonies, with other chords (C# minor, F# minor) enriching the tonal palette.

Because songs in E major feel expansive and vivid, they’re well-suited for piano arrangements that want to convey brightness, triumph, or high emotional clarity.

List of Popular Songs in E major

Here are selections of songs that are reported or documented to be in the key of E major (or widely arranged/used in E major) and notes about how the key impacts their piano version, or how the key influences their character.

1. “All I Ask” – Adele
   This piano-centric ballad is written in E major (before modulating further) and uses the key to convey a sense of open vulnerability and emotional depth.
   On piano, the E major tonality allows the melody and rich chords to shine with clarity.

2. “Golden Hour” – Jvke
   The song is in E major (with a later change) and uses piano and strings.
   The brightness of E major here supports the lyrical imagery of warmth and golden light.

3. “Isn’t She Lovely” – Stevie Wonder
   Reported among songs in E major on song-key reference sites.
   On piano, the key gives the song its celebratory openness and shimmering feel.

4. “How Long” – Charlie Puth
   Listed in playlists of songs in E major.
   The key supports a smooth pop-style piano accompaniment that sits nicely under the voice.

5. “Slow Dancing In A Burning Room” – John Mayer
   Identified as a song in E major in song key databases.
   The E major key lets the bluesy guitar/piano interplay feel full and expansive rather than dark.

6. “Under The Bridge” – Red Hot Chili Peppers
   Listed among songs in E major.
   When adapted to piano, the key gives the melody and accompaniment an uplifting spaciousness.

7. “The Cave” – Mumford & Sons
   Also cited as in E major.
   The key enables the piano arrangement to sound robust and anthemic.

8. “My Heart Will Go On” – Celine Dion
   Among songs listed in E major.
   On piano, the E major foundation lets the sweeping melody feel dramatic and shining.

9. “Wicked Game” – Chris Isaak
   Included in an E major song list.
   Adapting to piano in E major gives the haunting melody a clean, luminous surface.

10. “Peaceful, Easy Feeling” – Eagles
    Reported in E major.
    The key supports a relaxed yet bright sound on piano that mirrors the lyrics.

11. “Mean” – Taylor Swift
    Listed under songs in E major.
    For a piano version, E major allows for moderate range and clarity in accompaniment.

12. “Stacy’s Mom” – Fountains of Wayne
    Included in the E major list.
    On piano, the key gives the pop-rock vibe an energetic but polished feel.

13. “No Rain” – Blind Melon
    Listed as E major.
    The key helps translate the voice-melody and piano setting into an open, melodic feel.

14. “Don’t Stop Believin’” – Journey
    Some databases list it in E major.
    In piano form, E major enables strong chord voicings and soaring melodic lines.

15. “Echoes” – Pink Floyd
    Listed in E major.
    On piano, E major brings out the expansive sound-scape required by the song’s atmosphere.

16. “Sympathy For The Devil” – The Rolling Stones
    Also cited as E major.
    A piano adaptation in E major allows the groove and harmonic color to stand out.

17. “The Reason” – Hoobastank
    Appears in E major lists.
    For piano, E major supports a strong pop-rock ballad structure and lends brightness.

18. “Levels” – Avicii
    Listed under songs in E major.
    Adapting to piano in E major brings its electronic riff into a natural key for bright voicings.

19. “My One and Only” – Billy Joel
    While commonly in E major for versions, the precise key may vary (note: this is a tentative inclusion).
    When in E major, the piano uses crisp, upbeat major voicings aligned with the song’s mood.

20. “A Day In The Life” – The Beatles (final chord in E major)
    While the bulk of the song modulates, it famously culminates in a massive E major chord on piano.
    This gives at least part of the track an iconic E major function and makes it relevant in this list.

Why Songs in E Major Are Valuable for Piano

• The key of E major sounds radiant, clean, and full of energy — ideal for expressive playing, strong melodies, and choral-style chords.
• For pianists, the mixture of black and white keys in E major helps expand dexterity beyond simple white-key keys, while still remaining accessible.
• Learning songs in E major helps you become comfortable with sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#) and chord patterns that are common in pop, rock and ballad repertoire.

Playing Songs in E Major on Piano – Tips

1. Scale & Key Familiarity: Practice the E major scale (E–F#–G#–A–B–C#–D#–E) and get comfortable with fingerings involving the black keys.
2. Basic Chord Progressions: Common progressions in E major include E–B–C# minor–A and E–G# minor–A–B. Recognizing these helps you learn songs in E major faster.
3. Voicing & Inversions: Since E major uses multiple sharps, focus on smooth chord transitions and hand positioning, especially when moving between black-key-chords and white-key-chords.
4. Dynamics & Pedal: The brightness of E major lends itself to bold, clear voicings. Use pedal control to keep voicings clean and avoid blur.
5. Transposition Practice: If you know a song in C major, try transposing it to E major. This helps reinforce the structure and feel of songs in E major.

FAQ

Why do some sources list songs in E major even when other transpositions exist?

Songs are often transposed for vocal range or arrangements, so multiple keys exist. The key of E major is listed here where the original or widely used version is in E major.

How many sharps does E major have?

E major has four sharps: F#, C#, G#, and D#.

What are the primary chords in E major?

The main chords are E major (I), A major (IV), B major (V), C# minor (vi), and F# minor (ii).

What emotions does E major often convey in music?

E major is described as bright, strong, radiant, and bold—ideal for songs that want to communicate clarity, uplift or expansive emotion.

Is E major more difficult to play than simpler keys like C major?

It’s slightly more challenging because of the black-key notes and sharps, but it remains very approachable for pianists and offers great benefits in versatility.