Struttin' With Some Barbecue in E

Lil Hardin Armstrong / Don Raye(1928)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A

Chord Diagrams — Struttin' With Some Barbecue in E (Guitar)

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Struttin' With Some Barbecue 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 minor third), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to G# (ascending whole step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to A (ascending unison), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to F# (ascending whole step). 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 E 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.

swing2/2 · 33 bars · Form: A

Chords: EMaj7, C♯7, F♯m, G♯7, C♯m, F♯7, B7, E7, A, Am, E, F♯m7.

Scales for Improvisation E bebop, E bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of E