Easy Living in E

Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin()swingMed
Do Re MiC D E
A
A
B
A

Chord Diagrams — Easy Living in E (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
EMaj7
EADGBE312
EADGBE333xx14frEADGBE111x437frEADGBE111324
Fdim7
EADGBE1x23
EADGBE11xx347frEADGBE11123412frEADGBE3x142x
F♯m7
EADGBE111113
4frEADGBExx14239frEADGBE11113210frEADGBExx2314
Gdim7
EADGBE31x42
EADGBE3x1423frEADGBE1112345frEADGBExx1324
Emaj7/a
EADGBE312
EADGBE333xx14frEADGBE111x437frEADGBE111324
Bm7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBExx23147frEADGBE1111139frEADGBE11x423
E7
EADGBE21
5frEADGBEx3241x7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE111xx2
AMaj7
EADGBEx213
EADGBE111x45frEADGBE1114237frEADGBE333x1
D7
EADGBExx213
3frEADGBEx3241x5frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111132
C♯m7
4frEADGBE111x32
5frEADGBExx23149frEADGBE11111411frEADGBExx1423
B7
EADGBEx2134
EADGBE1111344frEADGBE111xx27frEADGBE111132
G♯7♯5
4frEADGBE1x234
6frEADGBExx14239frEADGBEx324111frEADGBE11x432
C♯9
EADGBE222221
8frEADGBE3142xx9frEADGBE11132410frEADGBExx2143
F♯7♯5
EADGBE1x234x
4frEADGBExx14237frEADGBEx43129frEADGBE11x432
B9
EADGBE2222x1
4frEADGBE1114327frEADGBE1113248frEADGBExx2143
B7♭9
EADGBE11x234
5frEADGBE3241xx7frEADGBE111x238frEADGBE11xx23
E
EADGBE231
2frEADGBExx12434frEADGBE1114327frEADGBE111234
A7
EADGBEx23
EADGBE111x25frEADGBE1111327frEADGBEx1324
Dm7
EADGBExx312
5frEADGBE1111326frEADGBExx231410frEADGBE111113
G7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
CMaj7
EADGBE231
3frEADGBE1113245frEADGBE111xx410frEADGBE333xx1
Am7
EADGBEx21
EADGBEx23145frEADGBE1111137frEADGBE11x423
G7/F
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
Em7
EADGBE2
EADGBE114237frEADGBE1111328frEADGBExx2314
Am7/G
EADGBEx21
EADGBEx23145frEADGBE1111137frEADGBE11x423
F♯m7♭5
EADGBE2341
4frEADGBE222xx19frEADGBEx1324x10frEADGBE11xx24

Easy Living in E

Easy Living in 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 F (ascending half step), F to F# (ascending half step), F# to G (ascending half step), G to E (descending minor third), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to C# (descending half step), C# to B (descending whole step), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to B (ascending unison), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to A (descending minor third), A to G (descending whole step), G to E (descending minor third), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to F# (descending minor third). 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 F# to E by whole step.

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 · 41 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: EMaj7, Fdim7, F♯m7, Gdim7, Emaj7/a, Bm7, E7, AMaj7, D7, C♯m7, B7, G♯7♯5, C♯9, F♯7♯5, B9, B7♭9, E, A7, Dm7, G7, CMaj7, Am7, G7/F, Em7, Am7/G, F♯m7♭5.

Scales for Improvisation E bebop, E bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of E