Explore More
Lone Jack (Page 1) 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 C (descending major third), C to B (descending half step), B to D (ascending minor third), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to G (descending whole step), G to F (descending whole step), F to D (descending minor third), D to C (descending whole step), C to G (descending perfect fourth), G to A (ascending whole step), A to C (ascending minor third), C to B (descending half step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to D (descending whole step), D to G# (ascending tritone), G# to A# (ascending whole step), A# to C# (ascending minor third), C# to D# (ascending whole step), D# to F# (ascending minor third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth). 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 B to E by perfect fourth.
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.