Cherokee in E

Cherokee in E

Cherokee in E with chords EMaj7 – Bm7 – E7 – AMaj7 – D7 – F#m7 – B7 – Gm7 – C7 – FMaj7 – Fm7 – A#7 – D#Maj7 – D#m7 – G#7 – C#Maj7. Ray Noble's blazing swing standard with a bridge that modulates through three distant key centers. The ultimate bebop test piece. Practice fast changes in E.

Cherokee 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 B (descending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to F# (ascending major third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to G (descending major third), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to F (ascending unison), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to D# (ascending unison), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (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 C# 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.