How to practice Summertime with play-along tracks?

Use the play-along backing track above to practice Summertime in the key of E. Listen to the audio with bass, piano, and drums, start by playing the melody, then practice improvisation and soloing over the chord changes.

What scales to use for soloing over Summertime?

For soloing over Summertime, recommended scales include: bebop minor, bebop. Use arpeggio patterns over each chord to create melodic lines that follow the harmony of this jazz tune.

Who composed Summertime?

Summertime was composed by George Gershwin / DuBose Heyward / Ira Gershwin in 1935. It is a swing standard in 4/4 time. The original key is A; this page shows it transposed to E.

What key is Summertime in?

The original key of Summertime is A. The form is A with 17 bars. This page shows the chart transposed to E.

What scales work for improvising over Summertime?

Recommended scales for Summertime in E: bebop minor, bebop. Scales and arpeggios update in real-time as each chord plays, with context-aware analysis (e.g., Phrygian Dominant over secondary dominants).

How does the interactive backing track work?

The backing track plays with realistic walking bass, drum patterns, and voice-led chord voicings. Scales and arpeggios update in real-time as each chord plays. You can limit the fretboard zone for close-proximity voicings, toggle a reference melody, loop any section, and choose between multiple sound presets. Works for guitar, piano, bass, ukulele, and 7 more instruments.

Can I edit the chord chart?

Yes. You can modify the structure, chords, and arrangement of any standard to match your preferred version or create your own reharmonization.

Summertime in E

George Gershwin / DuBose Heyward / Ira Gershwin(1935)swing

Do Re MiC D E

Section A

♬

BPM: 120

Chord Diagrams — Summertime in E (Guitar)

Display

FingerNoteDegree

Chord Voicings Closest Voicing

Em6

F♯7

Summertime 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 A (ascending perfect fourth), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to C (ascending half step), C to G (descending 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 G to E by minor 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 · 17 bars · Form: A

Chords: Em6, Am, F♯7, B7, C7, G7.

Scales for Improvisation E bebop minor, E bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of E