Misty in E

Erroll Garner / Johnny Burke(1954)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — Misty in E (Guitar)

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Misty 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 B (descending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to A (ascending unison), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to C# (descending half step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to E (ascending minor third), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to A (ascending unison), A to A# (ascending half step), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), 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 E by unison.

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 · 27 bars · Form: AB

Chords: EMaj7, Bm9, E7, A, Am9, D13, C♯m7, F♯m7, B7, G♯m7, C♯7, E, Am6, E6, Bm7, E7♭9, AMaj7, A6, A♯m11, D♯7, Edim.

Scales for Improvisation E bebop, E bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of E