Progressions in E — Cello

E major harmonises to E – F#m – G#m – A – B – C#m – D#°; E minor to Em – F#° – G – Am – Bm – C – D. Each chord links to its tone map on the Cello, so a tune in E becomes a short list of places the hand needs to be.

The useful question in a key is which open strings it agrees with. In E, check the chords against the open C and A — a key that leaves an open string ringing under the melody is a key this instrument was built for.