Explore More
In a Sentimental Mood in E
In a Sentimental Mood in E: Ellington's ballad moves between minor and major with aching beauty, favoring Dorian over minor chords and Melodic Minor over the tonic. Harmonic Minor colors the cadential V7 moments. Chords: Em – EmMaj7 – Em7 – Em6 – Am – AmMaj7 – Am7 – F#m7b5 – B7 – E7 – D7b9 – Gmaj7 – G6 – Fm7 – A#7 – D#maj7 – Cm7 – D#6 – C7#5 – F7 – D7.
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 E (ascending unison), E to E (ascending unison), E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to A (ascending unison), A to A (ascending unison), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to D (descending whole step), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G (ascending unison), G to F (descending whole step), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to C (descending minor third), C to D# (ascending minor third), D# to C (descending minor third), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to D (descending minor third). 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 D 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.