Night And Day in E

Night And Day in E

Night And Day in E with chords CMaj7 – B7 – EMaj7 – F#m7b5 – B7b9 – Em7 – Gm7 – C7 – F#m7. Cole Porter's classic features the distinctive bVI-V-I resolution that creates dramatic harmonic tension. Explore chord diagrams and audio playback in E.

Night And Day 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 B (descending half step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to F# (ascending whole step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to G (ascending minor third), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F# (ascending tritone). 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 F# to C by tritone.

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.