They Call It Stormy Monday in E

Aaron Walker a.k.a. T-Bone Walker(1947)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A

Chord Diagrams — They Call It Stormy Monday in E (Guitar)

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They Call It Stormy Monday 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 major third), F to F# (ascending half step), F# to G# (ascending whole step), G# to G (descending half step), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to B (descending half step), B to B (ascending unison). 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 B to E by perfect fourth.

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. Layer in the full major scale for melodic runs, reserving the pentatonic for riff-based phrases.

swing12/8 · 12 bars · Form: A

Chords: E9, A9, F9, F♯m7, G♯m7, Gm7, C9, B9, Baug.

Scales for Improvisation E bebop, E bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of E