Guilty was composed by Gus Kahn, Harry Akst, Richard A. Whiting. It is a ballad standard in 4/4 time. The original key is Bb; this page shows it transposed to E.

What key is Guilty in?

The original key of Guilty is Bb. The form is AABA with 38 bars. This page shows the chart transposed to E.

What scales work for improvising over Guilty?

Recommended scales for Guilty in E: bebop, bebop major. Scales and arpeggios update in real-time as each chord plays, with context-aware analysis (e.g., Phrygian Dominant over secondary dominants).

How does the interactive backing track work?

The backing track plays with realistic walking bass, drum patterns, and voice-led chord voicings. Scales and arpeggios update in real-time as each chord plays. You can limit the fretboard zone for close-proximity voicings, toggle a reference melody, loop any section, and choose between multiple sound presets. Works for guitar, piano, bass, ukulele, and 7 more instruments.

Can I edit the chord chart?

Yes. You can modify the structure, chords, and arrangement of any standard to match your preferred version or create your own reharmonization.

Guilty in E

Gus Kahn, Harry Akst, Richard A. Whiting()balladSlowly

Do Re MiC D E

BPM: 120

Chord Diagrams — Guilty in E (Guitar)

Display

FingerNoteDegree

Chord Voicings Closest Voicing

Bm/D

C♯7♯5

C♯7

F♯m

F♯m/E

D♯7♯5

E7♯5

B7♯5

B6/c

C♯m7/c

Guilty 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 B (descending perfect fourth), B to C# (ascending whole step), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to D# (descending minor third), D# to D# (ascending unison), D# to E (ascending half step), E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to A (ascending unison), A to G (descending whole step), G to F# (descending half step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to B (ascending unison), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to A# (ascending whole step), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to B (ascending half step), B to C# (ascending whole step), C# to B (descending whole step), B to C (ascending half step), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to B (ascending unison). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The predominantly stepwise bass motion creates smooth, connected voice leading. 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.

ballad4/4 · 38 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: E, Bm/D, C♯7♯5, C♯7, F♯m, F♯m/E, D♯7♯5, D♯7, EMaj7, E7♯5, AMaj7, Am, Gdim7, F♯m7, B7, B7♯5, G♯m, G♯mMaj7, G♯m7, A♯m7♭5, A♯m7, B6/c, C♯m7/c, B6, Cdim7, C♯m7, F♯9, Bsus4, B7♭9.

Scales for Improvisation E bebop, E bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of E