Misty in E

Erroll Garner(1954)balladBallad
E
Instrument
GuitarUkuleleBassPiano
A
A
B
A
EMaj7
Bm7
E7
AMaj7
Am7
D7
EMaj7
C♯m7
F♯m7
B7
EMaj7
B7
EMaj7
Bm7
E7
AMaj7
Am7
D7
EMaj7
C♯m7
F♯m7
B7
EMaj7
B7
Bm7
E7
AMaj7
A♯m7
D♯7
G♯Maj7
A♯m7
D♯7
G♯Maj7
F♯m7
B7
EMaj7
Bm7
E7
AMaj7
Am7
D7
EMaj7
C♯m7
F♯m7
B7
EMaj7
B7

Chord Diagrams — Misty in E (Guitar)

Misty in E

Misty in E with chords EMaj7 – Bm7 – E7 – AMaj7 – Am7 – D7 – C#m7 – F#m7 – B7 – A#m7 – D#7 – G#Maj7. Erroll Garner's romantic ballad features lush harmonies that modulate through distant key centers. Practice piano voicings, chord diagrams, and improvisation scales in E.

Misty 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 A (ascending unison), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to C# (descending half step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to A# (descending half step), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth). 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 G# to E by major 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.

ballad4/4 · 32 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: EMaj7, Bm7, E7, AMaj7, Am7, D7, C♯m7, F♯m7, B7, A♯m7, D♯7, G♯Maj7.