Come Rain or Come Shine in E

Johnny Mercer / Harold Arlen(1946)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A

Chord Diagrams — Come Rain or Come Shine in E (Guitar)

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Come Rain or Come Shine in E

Key of E

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 D# (descending half step), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to A (descending whole step), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to D (descending whole step), D to G# (ascending tritone), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F (ascending major third), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to G# (descending whole step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to D# (ascending whole step), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to B (descending whole step). 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 B to E by perfect fourth.

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.

swing4/4 · 32 bars · Form: A

Chords: EMaj7, D♯m, G♯7, C♯m, F♯7, B7, E7, Bm, Am, Em, B7♭9, Em6, Dm6, G♯m7♭5, C♯7♯9♯5, Fm, A♯7, G♯m, C♯7, C♯m7, D♯m7♭5, G♯7♯9, C♯7♯9, B7♯9.

Scales for Improvisation E bebop, E bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of E