Dolphin Dance in E
Dolphin Dance in E
Herbie Hancock's flowing composition with ever-shifting key centers, creating the illusion of a dolphin leaping between tonal areas.
Dolphin Dance 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 D (descending whole step), D to D# (ascending half step), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to D# (ascending whole step), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to A (descending major third), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to A# (ascending minor third), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to B (ascending minor third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to A# (ascending half step), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to B (ascending unison). 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 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.