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Old Folks 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 G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to E (descending whole step), E to E (ascending unison), E to F# (ascending whole step), F# to A (ascending minor third), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to A (ascending minor third), A to C# (ascending major third), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to G# (descending perfect fourth), G# to E (descending major third), E to F# (ascending whole step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to E (descending whole step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to B (ascending whole step), B to A (descending whole step), A to A (ascending unison), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to Cb (descending major third), Cb to A (descending minor third), A to C# (ascending major third), C# to E (ascending minor third), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to F# (descending minor third). 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 G# 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.