Almendra in E

Almendra in E

Almendra in E: Abelardo Valdés's danzón. Bebop Major and Major Pentatonic scales bring out the groove and energy of these changes. Chords: E – B7 – F#m – F#m7 – G#7 – C#m – F#7 – Fdim7 – C#7 – D#dim7 – Em – Am.

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