Bemsha Swing in Mi

Bemsha Swing in Mi

Monk and Denzil Best's collaborative groove piece channels Monk's rhythmic wit through Mixolydian and Lydian Dominant color over a loping E swing. The deceptively simple head conceals harmonic surprises that reward careful listening and internalization. Study the E7 – G7 – F#7 – C7 changes to develop command of Lydian Dominant dominant color in a swinging context.

Bemsha Swing in Mi

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 G (ascending minor third), G to F# (descending half step), F# to C (ascending tritone). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The root motion by larger intervals (fourths and fifths) gives each chord change a strong, decisive character. When the progression loops, the bass returns from C to E by major third.

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.