When Sunny Gets Blue in E

Marvin Fisher / Jack Segal(1956)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — When Sunny Gets Blue in E (Guitar)

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When Sunny Gets Blue 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 F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to A (descending whole step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to E (ascending whole step), E to G# (ascending major third), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to A# (descending minor third), A# to E (ascending tritone), E to G (ascending minor third), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to A (descending minor third), A to C# (ascending major third), C# to D# (ascending whole step), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F (ascending major third), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to C# (ascending minor third), 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 F# 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. Over dominant seventh chords, E Mixolydian adds the flat seventh for an authentic blues-rock edge.

swing4/4 · 27 bars · Form: AB

Chords: F♯m7, B7, Am7, D7, EMaj7, G♯m7, C♯7, A♯m7♭5, EMaj7/G♯, Gm7, C7, A7, C♯7♭9, D♯m7, G♯7♭9, C♯Maj7, Fm7, A♯7♯9, C♯m7, F♯7, BMaj7.

Scales for Improvisation E bebop, E bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of E