Fly Me To The Moon in E
Fly Me To The Moon in E
E version of Fly Me To The Moon: a cycle-of-fourths progression (vi-ii-V-I) that swings effortlessly. Bebop Major handles the major chords; Mixolydian adds bluesy color over the dominants. Changes: C#m7 – F#m7 – B7 – EMaj7 – AMaj7 – D#m7b5 – G#7b9 – C#7b9 – B9 – B7b9 – Emaj9 – C#m9 – Adim7/c – D#m7 – G#7 – B7/f – G#m7b5 – F#m7/g – E6 – D9 – D6 – D#6 – E69.
Fly Me To The Moon 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 C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D# (ascending tritone), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to B (descending whole step), B to B (ascending unison), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to C# (descending minor third), C# to A (descending major third), A to D# (ascending tritone), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to B (ascending minor third), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to E (descending whole step), E to D (descending whole step), D to D (ascending unison), D to D# (ascending half step), D# to E (ascending half 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 E to C# 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.