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 solfege . 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 (E ₄) is approximately 329.628 Hz. ^[1] See pitch (music) for a discussion of historical variations in frequency.

Designation by octave [ edit ]

Scientific designation	Helmholtz designation	Octave name	Frequency (Hz)
E _?1	E??? or ???E or EEEE	Subsubcontra	10.301
E ₀	E?? or ??E or EEE	Subcontra	20.602
E ₁	E? or ?E or EE	Contra	41.203
E ₂	E	Great	82.407
E ₃	e	Small	164.814
E ₄	e ′	One-lined	329.628
E ₅	e ′ ′	Two-lined	659.255
E ₆	e ′ ′ ′	Three-lined	1318.51
E ₇	e ′ ′ ′ ′	Four-lined	2637.02
E ₈	e ′ ′ ′ ′ ′	Five-lined	5274.041
E ₉	e ′ ′ ′ ′ ′ ′	Six-lined	10548.082
E ₁₀	e ′ ′ ′ ′ ′ ′ ′	Seven-lined	21096.164

Scales [ edit ]

Common scales in the key of E. [ edit ]

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 ). [ edit ]

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 [ edit ]

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 [ edit ]

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 [ edit ]

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 [ edit ]

${ \new Staff \with{ \magnifyStaff #3/2 } << \time 2/1 \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f { \clef bass fes1_F-flat \clef treble fes' } >> }$

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 [ edit ]

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