Domino in E

Louis Ferrari / Jacques Plante / Don Raye(1950)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
C

Chord Diagrams — Domino in E (Guitar)

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Domino 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 E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to B (ascending whole step), B to D (ascending minor third), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to D (descending perfect fourth), D to D (ascending unison), D to C (descending whole step), C to F# (ascending tritone), F# to E (descending whole step), E to F# (ascending whole step). The predominantly stepwise bass motion creates smooth, connected voice leading. 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.

swing3/4 · 79 bars · Form: ABC

Chords: Em, E7, Am, B7, D7, G, Dm, D, C, F♯m, E, F♯7.

Scales for Improvisation E bebop minor, E bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of E