E major chordson the mandolin
Main chords: E (I), A (IV), B (V)
The scale: E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯
Drones: Open E rings in E major; A fits the key too. The courses are G D A E, low to high.
Capo 2: play it with D major shapes, and every open course is in the key.
Common progressions
- I – IV – I – V: E – A – E – B (a plain backing for many reels and jigs)
- I – V – I: E – B – E (polkas and simple tunes)
- I – vi – IV – V: E – C♯m – A – B (a B part that wanders, or a song)
Basis: DADGAD Guitar blog (2009), the Chiff & Fipple forum, and common session practice: most major-key tunes use I, IV and V; vi now and then.