Molten Glass in E

Joe Farrell()swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
C♭Maj7
F♯Maj7♯11
EMaj7♯11
DMaj7♯11
CMaj7♯11

Chord Diagrams — Molten Glass in E (Guitar)

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Molten Glass 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 A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D# (ascending tritone), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to C (descending half step), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to G (ascending whole step), G to A (ascending whole step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to F# (descending half step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to C (ascending half step), C to Cb (ascending unison), Cb to A# (descending whole step), A# to F# (descending major third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to F (ascending tritone), F to G# (ascending minor third), G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to E (descending whole step), E to D (descending whole step), D to C (descending whole step). 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 C to E 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.

swing4/4 · 16 bars · Form: AB

Chords: EMaj7, AMaj7, D♯m7♭5, G♯7♭9, C♯Maj7, Cm7♭5, F7, Gm7, Am7♭5, D7♭9, GMaj7, F♯m7♭5, B7♭9, CMaj7, C♭Maj7, A♯Maj7, F♯Maj7, BMaj7, FMaj7, G♯Maj7, F♯Maj7♯11, EMaj7♯11, DMaj7♯11, CMaj7♯11.

Scales for Improvisation E bebop, E bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of E