Sweet Lorraine in E

Cliff Burwell / Mitchell Parish(1928)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — Sweet Lorraine in E (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree

Sweet Lorraine 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 D (descending whole step), D to C# (descending half step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to D# (descending minor third), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to B (descending whole step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to B (ascending whole step), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to A (ascending half step), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to D (descending major third), D to C (descending whole 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 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 · 27 bars · Form: AB

Chords: E, D7, C♯7, F♯m7, D♯m7♭5, G♯7, C♯m7, Bm7, E7, A7, B7, G♯m7, A, F♯m, D, C7.

Scales for Improvisation E bebop, E bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of E