Bock to Bock in E

Buddy Montgomery(1957)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — Bock to Bock in E (Guitar)

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Bock to Bock in E

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 C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to A (descending major third), A to G# (descending half step), G# to A# (ascending whole step), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G (ascending major third), G to F# (descending half step), F# to G (ascending half step), G to G# (ascending half step), G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to A# (ascending major third), A# to A (descending half step), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to D# (descending half step), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The predominantly stepwise bass motion creates smooth, connected voice leading. When the progression loops, the bass returns from G# to C# by perfect fourth.

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.

swing4/4 · 25 bars · Form: AB

Chords: C♯m7, C♯m7/B, A7, G♯7, A♯m7♭5, D♯m7♭5, G7♭5, F♯7, Gdim7, G♯m7, F♯Maj7, A♯m7, A7♭5, Em7, D♯m7, G♯7♯5.

Scales for Improvisation E bebop, E bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of E