What key is Opus One in?

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

swing2/2 · 29 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: Mi, La9, Fa♯9, Fa♯m7, Si9, Do9, Sol, Mim7, Lam7, Re7♭9, Sol6, Mi7♯5, Re9♯5, La♯, Solm7, Dom7, Fa7♭9, La♯6, Si13.

Scales for Improvisation Mi bebop, Mi bebop major.