Arallué in E

Rubén Blades(1978)guaguanco-guarachaGuaguancó/Guaracha ♩= 110
Do Re MiC D E
Clave 2-3
I
n
t
r
o
-
A
B
C
D
E
C9♯11
A♯9♯11
A♯9♯11
G♯9♯11
Gmaj9
C69

Chord Diagrams — Arallué in E (Guitar)

Arallué in E

Arallué 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 C (descending whole step), C to A# (descending whole step), A# to G# (descending whole step), G# to A (ascending half step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to B (descending half step), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to C (ascending major third), C to D (ascending whole step). 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 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.

guaguanco-guaracha4/4 · 18 bars · Form: Intro-ABCDE

Chords: Em9, Dm9, C9♯11, A♯9♯11, G♯9♯11, Am7, D7♭9, Gmaj9, Cmaj7, Bm7, G♯maj7, C69, D9.

Scales for Improvisation E bebop minor, E bebop.