All around the world people learn the guitar. A very guitar friendly key in my opinion is the key of E major.

I really like this key because I can mix and match chords from the relative minor C-sharp minor but also the parallel minor which is E minor.

The E minor key is probably the most played in all of rock ‘n’ roll. Mostly because standard tuning of the guitar has a low E note. But its also the relative minor of G Major in which countless hit songs have been written in. Its a great key for singer songwriters.

Enough of those keys though. Below are skme basic progressions in E Major and C sharp minor.

In my second version of chord progression mastery for beginners I go into more depth with progressions that have chord extensions, deal with modulation and variant quality chords along with chords built from other scales.

Its not finished as of yet but look for it in the future.

You can get the first version by clicking this link for less than a latte.

Keep in mind that if you already know these chords and progressions, my suggestion would be to explore chord extensions. Simply add any note of the scale below to any one of the chords.

Lets start with E Major:

E Major

The Notes in the E Major Scale are as follows:

E F# G# A B C# D#

Progression Examples:

E5 B5 E5 C#5 F#5 B5 F#m B E E C#m A B E C#m F#m B E Emaj7 D#dim B Emaj7 Amaj7 B E B7 Emaj7 G#m B B E A D#dim G#m C#m F#m7 B7

C# Minor

The Notes in the C# Minor Scale are as follows:

C# D# E F# G# A B

Progression Examples:

C#m F#m C#m D#dim F#m G#m D#dim A F#m G#m C#m C#m F#m G#m C#m A D#dim G#m D#dim G#m C#m C#m G#m C#m G#m F#m C#5 A5 E5 F#5 C#m F#m A G#m F#m A Emaj7 D#dim C#m

Listening examples

Keyboard sonatas in C-sharp minor, K. 246 and K. 247. – Domenico Scarlatti

Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 14 (Moonlight Sonata)

Fantaisie–Impromptu, Scherzo No. 3 (Op. 39) – Chopin

Optional Assignment:

Pick a song or riff in the key of C# Minor by scouring the internet.

Once you have the song, learn a section or even the whole thing.

Then analyze the chords and see how they match up with the chords in this key.

For lessons in Miami, Florida. Shoot me an email to mike@mikesoca.com.

Ive been a guitar teacher in Miami for the last 8 years.

Talk soon…