Estate in E

Bruno Martino / Bruno Brighetti(1960)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
Dm7/G
F♯m7/B
F♯m7/B
Dm7/G
F♯m7/B

Chord Diagrams — Estate in E (Guitar)

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

swing4/4 · 45 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Em7, Am7, B7♯9, D7, Dm7/G, GMaj7, CMaj7, F7♭5, F♯m7/B, B7, EMaj7, A♯dim, D♯7, G♯m7, C♯7, Dm7, G7.

Scales for Improvisation E bebop minor, E bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of E