Giant Steps in Mi

Giant Steps in Mi

Giant Steps in E: Coltrane's harmonic revolution cycles three key centers a major third apart. Use Lydian and Mixolydian over each fleeting tonal center — Bebop Major scales connect the lines. Chords: EMaj7 – G7 – CMaj7 – D#7 – G#Maj7 – Dm7 – B7 – A#m7 – F#m7.

Giant Steps in Mi

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