Bill Evans, Kind of Blue · ii–V–I in E major
The "So What" Voicing in E Major
The audio adds each chord's root in the bass — that's the context these rootless shapes are designed to sit in. The MIDI file is exactly the notation.
The notes
| Chord | Notes (low → high) | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| F♯m11 | F♯ – B – E – A – C♯ | root · 11 · ♭7 · ♭3 · 5 |
| B7sus(♯9) | B – E – A – D – F♯ | root · 11 · ♭7 · ♯9 · 5 |
| Emaj13 | G♯ – C♯ – F♯ – B – D♯ | 3 · 13 · 9 · 5 · 7 |
Why it works
From F♯m11 to B7sus(♯9), 5 voices move (F♯3→B3, B3→E4, E4→A4, A4→D5, C♯5→F♯5) against 0 held tones. Into Emaj13, 5 voices settle by step or small leap (total motion of just 15 semitones). Smoothness here is measurable, not a metaphor.
In E major, 7 of the 15 notes fall on black keys — a mixed terrain that is exactly why this progression must be practiced in every key, not just C. The lowest note is F♯3 in the octave below middle C; below roughly C3, close intervals start to blur, and this voicing stays clear of that line.
Practice tip: play the progression rubato first and listen for the held tones, then put the metronome on 2 and 4 at a slow tempo. When the grab is automatic, move around the circle of fourths — you are coming from B and headed to A. Say the chord symbols out loud as you play; naming and hearing are different skills, and you want both.
Where E major lives in the repertoire
E major is nearly absent from the classic songbook — which is precisely why it shows up in auditions and why modern composers (and guitarist-led bands) reach for it. Treat this page as insurance: the cadence feels different when the 3rd of the tonic is a black key under your thumb, and you want to have met that feeling before the gig does.
About this voicing style
Three fourths plus a major third on top. One grip, planed across all three chords. Read the full story and get it in all 12 keys →
Listen: Miles Davis — "So What" (Evans behind the theme); Herbie Hancock — "Maiden Voyage".
Around the circle
Practice keys in the order bassists walk them — up a fourth: ← B · E · A →