Song For My Father in E

Horace Silver(1964)afro-cubanAfro-Cuban ♩= 138
Do Re MiC D E
E
Instrument
GuitarUkuleleBassPiano
A
A
B
A
Em7
D7
C7
B7
Em7
D7
C7
B7
Em7
D7
C7
B7
Em7
D7
C7
B7
Gmaj7
Gmaj7
Cmaj7
Cmaj7
F♯m7♭5
B7
Em7
C7
B7
Em7
Em7
D7
C7
B7
Em7
D7
C7
B7

Chord Diagrams — Song For My Father in E (Guitar)

Song For My Father in E

Horace Silver (Blue Note, 1964) rinde homenaje a su padre cabo-verdiano con un montuno de cuatro acordes que desciende cromáticamente: Fm7–Eb7–Db7–C7. Este ostinato de 4 compases, repetido sin descanso, es uno de los grooves más copiados del jazz. Steely Dan lo usó como base de 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number'.

Song For My Father 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 whole step), C to B (descending half step), B to G (descending major 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 mix of stepwise and leap motion balances smoothness with harmonic drive. When the progression loops, the bass returns from F# to E 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.

afro-cuban4/4 · 32 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: Em7, D7, C7, B7, Gmaj7, Cmaj7, F♯m7♭5.