Explore More
Harlem Nocturne 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 A (ascending unison), A to A (ascending unison), A to B (ascending whole step), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to C (ascending tritone), C to E (ascending major third), E to D (descending whole step), D to D (ascending unison), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G (ascending unison), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F# (ascending tritone), F# to G# (ascending whole step), G# to A# (ascending whole step), A# to C (ascending whole step), C to A (descending minor third), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to D (descending whole step). The predominantly stepwise bass motion creates smooth, connected voice leading. When the progression loops, the bass returns from D 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.