Mas Que Nada in E

Mas Que Nada in E

Mas Que Nada in E: Jorge Ben Jor's minor samba. Apply Dorian and Harmonic Minor scales to navigate the modal harmony. Chords: Em7 – A9 – Amaj7 – D9 – Bmaj7 – B7#9 – B9 – B7b9 – B9sus – Gmaj9 – G6 – A7 – D.

Mas Que Nada 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 A (ascending perfect fourth), A to A (ascending unison), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to B (descending minor third), B to B (ascending unison), B to B (ascending unison), B to B (ascending unison), B to B (ascending unison), B to G (descending major third), G to G (ascending unison), G to A (ascending whole step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth). The predominantly stepwise bass motion creates smooth, connected voice leading. When the progression loops, the bass returns from D 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.