There'll Be Some Changes Made in E

Benton Overstreet / Billy Higgins(1921)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A

Chord Diagrams — There'll Be Some Changes Made in E (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree

There'll Be Some Changes Made 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 C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to G# (ascending whole step), G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to D (descending whole step), D to C# (descending half step), C# to E (ascending minor third), E to D# (descending half step). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The predominantly stepwise bass motion creates smooth, connected voice leading. When the progression loops, the bass returns from D# to C# 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 · 19 bars · Form: A

Chords: C♯9, F♯9, G♯7, F♯m7, B7, E6, D7, C♯7, E, D♯7.

Scales for Improvisation E bebop, E bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of E