The Key of E — Dobro

E major harmonises to E – F#m – G#m – A – B – C#m – D#°; E minor to Em – F#° – G – Am – Bm – C – D. A caller does not say any of that. They say the key and then hold up fingers, and the whole circle is expected to translate.

E is not one of the four keys a bluegrass circle usually calls, so when it comes up it is because a singer needed it — and somebody in the band is capoing to make their shapes fit.

Learn 1–4–5 in E until your hand goes there without asking, then 1–6m–4–5 and the 2–5 that walks into a tag, and most of the repertoire is already playable in this key.