Scotch and Soda in E

Dave Guard(1958)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — Scotch and Soda in E (Guitar)

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Scotch and Soda 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 A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to E (ascending whole step), E to G# (ascending major third), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to B (ascending unison), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A# (ascending tritone), A# to E (ascending tritone), E to E (ascending unison), E to F# (ascending whole step), F# to E (descending whole step), E to F# (ascending whole step), F# to C# (descending perfect fourth), C# to A (descending major 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 A to A by unison.

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 · 29 bars · Form: AB

Chords: AMaj7, D9, E6, G♯m7, C♯7, F♯7, F♯m7, B7, Bm7, E7, A♯7, Eaug7, E, F♯m, EMaj7, F♯9, C♯m7, A7.

Scales for Improvisation E bebop, E bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of E