E (musical note)

${ \new Staff \with{ \magnifyStaff #3/2 } << \time 2/1 \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f { \clef bass e1_E \clef treble e' } >> }$

E is the third note and the fifth semitone of the C major scale, and mi in fixed-do solfège. It has enharmonic equivalents of F♭ [(F-flat) which is by definition a diatonic semitone above E♭] and D (D-double sharp), amongst others.

When calculated in equal temperament with a reference of A above middle C as 440 Hz, the frequency of Middle E (E₄) is approximately 329.628 Hz.^[1] See pitch (music) for a discussion of historical variations in frequency.

Designation by octave

Scientific designation	Helmholtz designation	Octave name	Frequency (Hz)
E₋₁	E͵͵͵ or ͵͵͵E or EEEE	Subsubcontra	10.301
E₀	E͵͵ or ͵͵E or EEE	Subcontra	20.602
E₁	E͵ or ͵E or EE	Contra	41.203
E₂	E	Great	82.407
E₃	e	Small	164.814
E₄	e′	One-lined	329.628
E₅	e′′	Two-lined	659.255
E₆	e′′′	Three-lined	1318.51
E₇	e′′′′	Four-lined	2637.02
E₈	e′′′′′	Five-lined	5274.041
E₉	e′′′′′′	Six-lined	10548.082
E₁₀	e′′′′′′′	Seven-lined	21096.164

Scales

Common scales in the key of E.

E major: E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯ E
E natural minor: E F♯ G A B C D E
E harmonic minor: E F♯ G A B C D♯ E
E melodic minor ascending: E F♯ G A B C♯ D♯ E
E melodic minor descending: E D C B A G F♯ E

E major modes (diatonic scales).

E Ionian: E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯ E
E Dorian: E F♯ G A B C♯ D E
E Phrygian: E F G A B C D E
E Lydian: E F♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E
E Mixolydian: E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D E
E Aeolian: E F♯ G A B C D E
E Locrian: E F G A B♭ C D E

E melodic (Jazz) minor modes

E ascending melodic minor: E F♯ G A B C♯ D♯ E
E Dorian ♭2: E F G A B C♯ D E
E Lydian augmented: E F♯ G♯ A♯ B♯ C♯ D♯ E
E Lydian dominant: E F♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯ D E
E Mixolydian ♭6: E F♯ G♯ A B C D E
E Locrian ♮2: E F♯ G A B♭ C D E
E altered: E F G A♭ B♭ C D E

E harmonic minor modes

E harmonic minor: E F♯ G A B C D♯ E
E Locrian ♮6: E F G A B♭ C♯ D E
E Ionian ♯5: E F♯ G♯ A B♯ C♯ D♯ E
E Dorian ♯4: E F♯ G A♯ B C♯ D E
E Phrygian ♮3: E F G♯ A B C D E
E Lydian ♯2: E F G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E
E Superlocrian bb7: E F G A♭ B♭ C D♭ E

E harmonic major modes

E Harmonic Major: E F♯ G♯ A B C D♯ E
E Dorian ♭5: E F♯ G A B♭ C♯ D E
E Phrygian ♭4: E F G A♭ B C D E
E Lydian ♭3: E F♯ G A♯ B C♯ D♯ E
E Mixolydian ♭2: E F G♯ A B C♯ D E
E Lydian Augmented ♯2: E F G♯ A♯ B♯ C♯ D♯ E
E Locrian 7: E F G A B♭ C D♭ E

F-flat

F♭ is a common enharmonic equivalent of E, but is not regarded as the same note. F♭ is commonly found after E♭ in the same measure in pieces where E♭ is in the key signature, in order to represent a diatonic, rather than a chromatic semitone; writing an E♭ with a following E♮ is regarded as a chromatic alteration of one scale degree.

References

^ Suits, B. H. (1998). "Physics of Music Notes - Scales: Just vs Equal Temperament". MTU.edu. Michigan Technological University. Retrieved 5 February 2024.