Stella By Starlight in E
Stella By Starlight in E
The E version of Stella By Starlight — Victor Young's harmonically restless standard that visits multiple tonal centers without ever settling. Dorian, Mixolydian, Lydian, and Bebop Major all have a role here. Changes: A#m7b5 – D#7b9 – F#m7 – B7 – Bm7 – E7 – AMaj7 – D7 – EMaj7 – G#m7 – Em7 – A7 – BMaj7 – D#7 – D#m7b5 – G#7b9 – C#7#5 – G#m7b5 – C#7b9 – F#m7b5 – B7b9.
Stella By Starlight 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 A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to F# (ascending minor third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to B (ascending unison), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to E (ascending whole step), E to G# (ascending major third), G# to E (descending major third), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to B (ascending whole step), B to D# (ascending major third), D# to D# (ascending unison), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to G# (descending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth). 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 B to A# by half 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.