Do Re MiC D E

Twelfth Street Rag

Euday L. Bowman4/4swing

Chord Diagrams — Twelfth Street Rag in E (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
Starting fret
Open123456789101112
B7
4frEADGBE111xx2
EADGBEx2134
EADGBE111134
7frEADGBE111132
E
2frEADGBExx1243
EADGBE231
4frEADGBE111432
7frEADGBE111234
F♯7
EADGBE111132
4frEADGBE11x324
7frEADGBEx3241x
9frEADGBE111134
E/D♭
EADGBE231
2frEADGBExx1243
4frEADGBE111432
7frEADGBE111234
A/C
EADGBEx234
2frEADGBE111x4
5frEADGBE111342
7frEADGBEx1243
C7
EADGBEx3241
3frEADGBE111134
5frEADGBE111xx2
8frEADGBE111132
E/B♭
EADGBE231
2frEADGBExx1243
4frEADGBE111432
7frEADGBE111234

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Twelfth Street Rag 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 B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to F# (ascending whole step), F# to E (descending whole step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to C (ascending minor third), C to E (ascending 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 E to B 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.

swing4/4 · 36 bars · Form: A

Chords: B7, E, F♯7, E/D♭, A/C, C7, E/B♭.

Scales for Improvisation E bebop, E bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of E