Look To The Sky in E

Look To The Sky in E

Look To The Sky in E — Antonio Carlos Jobim's bossa nova classic. Explore Bebop Major and Lydian scales over these sophisticated changes. Chords: Emaj9 – D6 – C#7b9 – F#m9 – Fmaj9#11 – Am7 – D9 – Gmaj9 – Em9 – Em69 – G#m7 – D9sus – D7b9 – Gdim – B7#5b9 – B13b9.

Look To The Sky 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 E to D (descending whole step), D to C# (descending half step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to F (descending half step), F to A (ascending major third), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to E (descending minor third), E to E (ascending unison), E to G# (ascending major third), G# to D (ascending tritone), D to D (ascending unison), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to B (ascending major third), B to B (ascending unison). 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 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. Over dominant seventh chords, E Mixolydian adds the flat seventh for an authentic blues-rock edge.