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Living For The City Page 2 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 E to F# (ascending whole step), F# to E (descending whole step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to B (ascending whole step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to C# (descending minor third), C# to C (descending half step), C to C (ascending unison), C to A# (descending whole step), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to G (descending minor third), G to F (descending whole step), F to F (ascending unison), F to F (ascending unison), F to F (ascending unison), F to F (ascending unison), F to F (ascending unison). 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 F to E by half 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. Layer in the full major scale for melodic runs, reserving the pentatonic for riff-based phrases.