What key is Come Rain Or Come Shine in?

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 A# (ascending tritone), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to A (descending whole step), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to B (ascending unison), B to B (ascending unison), B to C# (ascending whole step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to D (ascending minor third), D to G# (ascending tritone), G# to C (ascending major third), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to G# (descending whole step), G# to A (ascending half step), A to C# (ascending major third), C# to D (ascending half step), D to F# (ascending major third), F# to G (ascending half step), G to F# (descending half step). 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.

swing4/4 · 32 bars · Form: AB

Chords: MiMaj7, La♯m7♭5, Re♯m7♭5, Sol♯7♭9, Do♯m7, Fa♯9, Fa♯m7, Si7, Mi7, Sim7, Lam7, Mim, Lam, Fa♯m7♭5, Si7♭5, Si75, Si7♯5, Do♯m7♭5, Fa♯7♭9, Sim, Rem7, Sol♯m7, Dom7♭5, Fam7, La♯7, Sol♯7, La7, Do♯7, ReMaj7, Fa♯7, Sol9, Fa♯7/f.

Scales for Improvisation Mi bebop, Mi bebop major.