Explore More
Sister Moon 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 A (ascending perfect fourth), A to A (ascending unison), A to B (ascending whole step), B to C (ascending half step), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to E (ascending minor third), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to D (ascending minor third), D to E (ascending whole step), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to B (ascending unison), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to D# (ascending whole step), D# to E (ascending half step), E to F# (ascending whole step), F# to C (ascending tritone). 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 C to E 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.