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How Insensitive in E
How Insensitive in E: Jobim's bossa nova elegy descends chromatically through Melodic Minor and Harmonic Minor territory. Phrygian-flavored dominant chords give the harmony its Brazilian melancholy — keep lines close to the melody. Chords: Em – D#dim7 – Dm6 – A7/B – Cmaj7 – Fmaj7#11 – F#m7b5 – B7b9 – D#7 – C#dim7 – Dm7 – G7 – C#m7 – F#7b9.
Key of E
E major is arguably guitar's most powerful key. The open low E and high E strings ring sympathetically as the root, while the open B provides the fifth. This triple reinforcement gives E-based riffs and chords unmatched depth and volume. E is a beginner-level key on guitar because both the low E and high E strings ring as the root, and the open B is the fifth — three open strings reinforce the tonic chord. Beginners will find this key approachable since most chords use open voicings with minimal stretching.
Voice Leading
The bass line moves through E to D# (descending half step), D# to D (descending half step), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to C (ascending minor third), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to F# (ascending half step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to D# (ascending major third), D# to C# (descending whole step), C# to D (ascending half step), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The root motion by larger intervals (fourths and fifths) gives each chord change a strong, decisive character. When the progression loops, the bass returns from F# to E by whole step.
Scales for Improvisation
E major pentatonic works because every note is either a chord tone or a safe passing tone — there are no avoid notes. For soloing, this means you can play freely without clashing. Over dominant seventh chords, E Mixolydian adds the flat seventh for an authentic blues-rock edge.