In a Sentimental Mood in E

Duke Ellington, Irvin Mills, Manny Kurtz()swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
Caug/A
B7♯5
G69
B7♯5
G69
A♯13
D♯/G
F♯13
D7sus4
B7♯5
Gaug/B
Caug/A
B7♯5
G69

Chord Diagrams — In a Sentimental Mood in E (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
Em
EADGBE23
2frEADGBE113427frEADGBE1113429frEADGBE4312xx
EmMaj7
EADGBE21
EADGBE113424frEADGBE11x42x7frEADGBE111423
Em7
EADGBE2
EADGBE114237frEADGBE1111328frEADGBExx2314
Em6
EADGBE123
EADGBE111325frEADGBE11x3248frEADGBExx2314
Am7
EADGBEx21
EADGBEx23145frEADGBE1111137frEADGBE11x423
Caug/A
EADGBE11x32x
3frEADGBEx1423x5frEADGBE11432x8frEADGBExx4231
Am6
EADGBEx2314
4frEADGBE2222x15frEADGBE1112347frEADGBE111x32
B7♯5
EADGBEx2134
2frEADGBEx2137frEADGBE1x234x9frEADGBExx1423
Bm7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBExx23147frEADGBE1111139frEADGBE11x423
E9
EADGBE213
EADGBE113x426frEADGBE2222219frEADGBE11112
D7♭9
2frEADGBExx431
4frEADGBE11x2345frEADGBE11x248frEADGBE3241xx
G69
EADGBE1
EADGBE1112344frEADGBE2222x19frEADGBE11x234
F♯m7
EADGBE111113
4frEADGBExx14239frEADGBE11113210frEADGBExx2314
Fm9
EADGBE111134
EADGBEx12346frEADGBE2222x111frEADGBE22221
A♯13
EADGBE44x12
4frEADGBE11326frEADGBE11123412frEADGBE44x213
D♯Maj7
EADGBE11333x
3frEADGBE111x436frEADGBE1113248frEADGBE111xx4
Cm7
EADGBEx2134x
3frEADGBE1111324frEADGBExx23148frEADGBE111113
A♯7
EADGBE111x34
6frEADGBE1111328frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBEx3241x
G♯Maj7
4frEADGBE111423
6frEADGBE11x3339frEADGBEx3241x11frEADGBE111324
D♯/G
EADGBExx1243
3frEADGBE11x4326frEADGBE11x2348frEADGBE111xx4
F♯13
EADGBE2314
EADGBE1112347frEADGBEx42319frEADGBE111134
Fm7
EADGBE111113
3frEADGBExx14238frEADGBE1111329frEADGBExx2314
Gm7
3frEADGBE111113
5frEADGBE11x4238frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE111132
D7sus4
EADGBExx214
3frEADGBEx2341x5frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111134
D7
EADGBExx213
3frEADGBEx3241x5frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111132
Em9
EADGBE24
EADGBE12435frEADGBE2222x110frEADGBE11324
Gaug/B
EADGBE321x
3frEADGBE1x423x4frEADGBE11xx2x8frEADGBE11x32x
F♯7
EADGBE111132
4frEADGBE11x3247frEADGBEx3241x9frEADGBE111134
C♯m7♭5
4frEADGBEx1324x
5frEADGBE11xx248frEADGBE2x341x11frEADGBE222xx1
CMaj7
EADGBE231
3frEADGBE1113245frEADGBE111xx410frEADGBE333xx1

In a Sentimental Mood 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 E (ascending unison), E to E (ascending unison), E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to C (ascending minor third), C to A (descending minor third), A to B (ascending whole step), B to B (ascending unison), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to D (descending whole step), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to F# (descending half step), F# to F (descending half step), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to C (descending minor third), C to A# (descending whole step), A# to G# (descending whole step), G# to D# (descending perfect fourth), D# to F# (ascending minor third), F# to F (descending half step), F to G (ascending whole step), G to D (descending perfect fourth), D to D (ascending unison), D to E (ascending whole step), E to G (ascending minor third), G to F# (descending half step), F# to C# (descending perfect fourth), C# to C (descending half step). 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 C to E by major 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 · 26 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Em, EmMaj7, Em7, Em6, Am7, Caug/A, Am6, B7♯5, Bm7, E9, D7♭9, G69, F♯m7, Fm9, A♯13, D♯Maj7, Cm7, A♯7, G♯Maj7, D♯/G, F♯13, Fm7, Gm7, D7sus4, D7, Em9, Gaug/B, F♯7, C♯m7♭5, CMaj7.

Scales for Improvisation E bebop minor, E bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of E