I Wish I Knew in E

Harry Warren / Mack Gordon(1945)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
G♯7♯5
F♯m7/A

Chord Diagrams — I Wish I Knew in E (Guitar)

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I Wish I Knew 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 F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to G# (descending half step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to E (ascending minor third), E to G# (ascending major third), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to G# (ascending whole step), G# to C# (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 C# to F# 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: F♯m7, B7, EMaj7, A7, G♯m7, C♯7, E, G♯7♯5, C♯m7, F♯7, F♯m7/A, G♯m7♭5, C♯7♭9.

Scales for Improvisation E bebop, E bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of E