Bailando Así in E

Jesús "Chucho" Valdés(1988)guarachaGuaracha

Bailando Así in E

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

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.

guaracha4/4 · 15 bars · Form: Intro-A-B-C-D

Chords: G7, C♯m9, Cm9, F7, Em7, Am11, Am7, D7, Gmaj7, Cmaj7, F♯m7♭5, B7♯9, A7, A♯7, B7.

Scales for Improvisation E bebop minor, E bebop.