In A Sentimental Mood in E

In A Sentimental Mood in E

One of Ellington's most beloved ballads, featuring a descending chromatic line in the A section and a lush bridge that modulates to Db major.

In A Sentimental Mood 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 C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to G# (ascending whole step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F (ascending major third), F to E (descending half step), E to C (descending major third), C to A (descending minor third), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to A (ascending whole step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to B (descending minor third). 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 C# by whole step.

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.