I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry

I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry 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 B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to C (ascending half step), C to G# (descending major third), G# to A (ascending half step), A to B (ascending whole step), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to E (descending whole step), E to E (ascending unison), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to G (descending major third), G to G# (ascending half step), G# to B (ascending minor third), B to C# (ascending whole step), C# to E (ascending minor third), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to A# (descending half step), A# to A (descending half step), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to A (descending whole step), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to E (descending whole step), E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to C# (ascending major third), C# to G# (descending perfect fourth), G# to A (ascending half step), A to A# (ascending half step), A# to B (ascending half step), B to G (descending major third). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The mix of stepwise and leap motion balances smoothness with harmonic drive. When the progression loops, the bass returns from G to B by major third.

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.